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THE 

COURT  AND   REIGN 

OF 

FRANCIS   I 


V- 


1  ne 


n 


Bv 


By  Adolphe  Cohn 


Volume   III. 


James   roi- 


Diana  of  Poitiers 


The 

Court  and   Reign 

of 

Francis  the  First 

King  of  France 

By 
Julia    Pardee 

With  a  Preface 
By  Adolphe   Cohn 

Volume   III. 


New  York 

James  Pott   &  Company 

Mcmi, 


Copyrighted,   1901, 
by 

James  Pott  &  Company 


CONTENTS  OF  VOL.  III. 


CHAPTER  I. 


1527-30. 

Francis  Sends  Ambassadors  to  Henry  VIII. — Magnificence 
of  the  Cardinal-Minister — The  Monarchs  of  France  and 
England  Declare  War  against  the  Emperor — Reply  of 
Charles  V. — The  Defiance — The  Imperial  Ambassador 
Retires  from  France — Intemperate  Bearing  of  Francis 
I. — The  Royal  Letter — The  Imperial  Cartel — Burgundy, 
the  Herald-at-arms  of  the  Emperor,  Arrives  on  the 
French  Frontier — He  is  Detained  by  the  Governor  of 
Bayonne — Burgundy  Follows  the  King  to  Paris — He 
Refuses  to  Remove  His  Coat  of  Mail  at  the  Gates  of  the 
Capital — Francis  Grants  Him  an  Audience,  but  Refuses 
to  Let  Him  Deliver  His  Message — Burgundy  Leaves 
France — The  Regal  Duel  is  not  Fought — The  Rival 
Sovereigns  Endeavour  to  Evade  a  War — Andrea  Doria 
Transfers  His  Allegiance  from  the  French  King  to  the 
Emperor — Lautrec  Makes  a  Last  Effort  to  Defend  Ge- 
noa— The  Plague  Attacks  the  French  Army — Death  of 
Lautrec — The  Siege  of  Genoa  is  Raised — Pietro  da  Na- 
varro and  Saluzzo  Die  of  Their  Wounds — The  Comte 
de  St.  Pol  is  Defeated  in  the  Milanese — Italy  is  Lost 
to  the  French — Exhausted  State  of  Europe — Clement 
VII.  Makes  Terms  with  the  Emperor — Francis  Nego- 
tiates with  Charles  V. — Madame  d'Angouleme  and 
Margaret  d'Autriche  Meet  at  Cambray,  and  Effect  a 
Treaty — La  Paix  des  Dames — Undignified  Concessions 


vi  Contents 

p 

of  Francis  I. — The  French  King  Abandons  His  Allies 
— Anne  de  Montmorenci  is  Despatched  to  Ransom  the 
Young  Princes — Duprat  Endeavours  to  Defraud  the 
Emperor — Queen  Eleonora  and  the  Princes  Land  in 
France — The  King  and  His  Betrothed  Bride  Meet  at 
Mont-de-Marsan — The  Royal  Marriage — Francis  and 
His  Suite  Proceed  to  Bordeaux — Coronation  of  the 
Queen — Her  Solemn  Entry  into  the  Capital — Public 
Rejoicings — Melancholy  of  the  Royal  Bride — The  Wife 
and  the  Mistress — Infatuation  of  Francis  I.  for  Madame 
d'Etampes — The  Fortunes  of  a  Favourite's  Family — 
The  Duchesse  d'Etampes  Protects  Men  of  Letters — 
The  Queen  and  the  Princess — Insolent  Ostentation  of 
Madame   d'Etampes 

CHAPTER   II. 
1530-31. 

Francis  I.  and  the  Royal  College — He  Establishes  Pro- 
fessorships— Illustrious  Scholars — Duprat  Dissuades  the 
King  from  Founding  the  College — The  Jealousy  of 
Francis  is  Excited  by  the  Progress  of  the  Reformation 
— Jean  le  Clerc  is  Burnt  Alive  at  Meaux  for  Heresy— 
An  Effigy  of  the  Virgin  is  Desecrated  at  Paris — Super- 
stition of  Francis  I. — The  Silver  Image — A  Regal  Pro- 
cession— The  King  Persecutes  the  Lutherans — Louis  de 
Berguin  is  Burnt  Alive  in  the  Place  de  Greve — The  Ec- 
clesiastical Tribunals  Judge  and  Condemn  the  Protes- 
tants— The  Queen  of  Navarre  Intercedes  in  Vain  for  the 
Victims — Cruelty  of  Francis  I. — Symptoms  of  Renewed 
Hostilities — Meeting  between  the  Pope  and  the  Em- 
peror— They  Conclude  a  Treaty — Charles  V.  Restores 
the  Milanese  to  Francisco  Sforza — Indignation  of  Fran- 
cis— Terror  of  the  French  Queen — Eleonora  Invites  a 
Nobleman  of  Her  Brother's  Court  to  France — An  In- 
terview is  Arranged  between  the  Emperor  and  Francis 
— Death  of  Louise  de   Savoie — Her  Treasure-chest — 


Contents  vii 


PAGE 


The  French  King  Liberates  the  Territories  of  the  Low 
Countries — Death  of  Marguerite  d'Autriche — Contrast 
between  the  Two  Princesses 26 

CHAPTER  IIL 

1532. 

Francis  Endeavours  to  Annex  the  Duchy  of  Brittany  to 
the  French  Crown — The  Bretons  Resist  His  Claim — 
Louis  des  Desserts  Undertakes  to  Secure  Their  Consent 
— The  States  of  Brittany  are  Assembled  at  Vannes — 
Francis  Proceeds  to  Chateaubriand — Reconciliation  of 
the  Count  and  Countess — Francis  Presents  Two  Estates 
to  His  Old  Favourite — The  Dauphin  is  Proclaimed 
Duke  of  Brittany — Francis  Erects  New  Palaces — The 
Chateau  of  Madrid — The  Queen  Dowager  of  Hungary 
is  Appointed  Governante  of  the  Low  Countries — Henry 
VHL  and  Francis  I.  Enter  into  a  Defensive  Alliance 
— Clement  VH.  Refuses  to  Sanction  the  Divorce  of 
Henry  VHL  and  Katherine  of  Aragon — Unpopularity 
of  Henry  VHL — Diet  of  Spires — Ferdinand  of  Austria 
is  Elected  King  of  the  Romans — Contempt  Evinced  by 
Charles  V.  towards  the  German  Protestants — The 
League  of  Smalkalden — The  Protestant  Princes  Apply 
to  France  and  England  for  Support — Courteous  Reply 
of  Francis — The  King  of  Hungary  Sends  Ambassadors 
to  the  French  Court — Policy  of  Francis — The  French 
Ambassadors  to  England  Negotiate  a  Meeting  between 
the  Two  Monarchs — The  Royal  Interview — A  Treaty  is 
Signed  by  which  both  Sovereigns  Bind  Themselves 
to  a  Crusade  against  the  Turks — Indignation  of  Henry 
VIII.  against  the  Pope — Caution  of  the  French  King 
— Jealousy  of  Charles  V. — Francis  is  Summoned  by  the 
Emperor  to  Despatch  an  Army  against  Solyman — He 
Refuses — Charles  V.  Compels  the  Turks  to  Retreat — 
Francis  Deceives  Henry  VIII. — Francis  Offers  the 
Hand  of  the  Due  d'Orleans  to  Catherine  de'  Medici — 


viii  Contents 


Incredulity  of  the  Pope — He  Consults  Charles  V. — The 
Emperor  and  the  Pope  Meet  at  Bologna — Alarm  of 
Francis — Two  French  Bishops  are  Despatched  to 
Threaten  Clement  VII. — Henry  VIII.  Returns  to  Eng- 
land      45 

CHAPTER  IV. 
1533-34- 

The  Pope  Desires  to  Conciliate  the  French  King — His  Per- 
sonal Ambition — A  Meeting  is  Arranged  between  the 
Pope  and  Francis — Francis  Makes  Overtures  to  the 
Duke  of  Milan — Untoward  Affair  at  Milan — Maraviglia 
— His  Arrogance  Awakens  the  Suspicions  of  Charles  V. 
— Treason  of  Sforza — A  Lacquey  of  Maraviglia  Chal- 
lenges the  Milanese  Count  Castiglione — Murder  of 
Maraviglia — Indignation  of  the  French  King — Duplicity 
of  Sforza — The  Duke's  Envoy  is  Dismissed  with  Ig- 
nominy— Charles  V.  Bestows  the  Hand  of  the  Princess 
Christina  on  the  Duke  of  Milan — Death  of  the  Duke — 
The  Duke  of  Wirtemberg  Solicits  the  Support  of  Fran- 
cis against  the  Emperor — Du  Bellay  Intercedes  for  the 
Young  Duke — Confirmation  of  the  Peace  of  Nurem- 
berg— The  Pope  Proceeds  to  Marseilles  to  Meet  the 
French  King — He  is  Received  with  Great  Pomp — Hom- 
age is  Rendered  by  Francis  to  the  Pontiff — The  Latin 
Oration — Henry  VIII.  Despatches  Bishop  Bonner  to 
the  Pope — Charles  V.  Endeavours  to  Prevent  the  Mar- 
riage of  Catherine  de'  Medici — The  Marriage  is  Sol- 
emnized by  the  Pope — The  Boy-Cardinal — The  Pope 
Returns  to  Italy 62 

CHAPTER  V. 
1534- 

The  Female  Court  of  Francis  I. — The  Queen  of  Navarre 
— Madame   de    Chateaubriand — Queen    Eleonora — The 


Contents  ix 

PAGB 

Duchesse  d'Etampes — Fleeting  Favouritism — Cather- 
ine de'  Medici — The  King's  Household — Lax  Morality 
of  the  Royal  Circle — The  Rival  Roues — Resignation  of 
Queen  Eleonora — Montmorenci  Conceives  a  Passion  for 
the  Queen — He  Declares  it,  and  is  Haughtily  Repulsed 
— An  Eccentric  Compact — Mirth  of  the  Courtiers — 
Marriage  of  Henry  VHI.  and  Anna  Boleyn — He  is 
Excommunicated  by  the  Pope — Death  of  Katherine  of 
Aragon — Henry  VHI.  Persecutes  the  Romanists — 
Death  of  Clement  VH. — Accession  of  Paul  HI. — Fran- 
cis Re-organizes  His  Army — Charles  V.  Takes  Tunis — 
Francis  is  Accused  of  Maintaining  an  Intelligence  with 
Solyman — Barbarity  of  Francis  towards  the  Reformists 
— The  Silver  Image — Frightful  Executions    .        .        .83 

CHAPTER  VI. 

1535-36. 

The  Persecution  of  the  Protestants  is  Continued — Francis 
Abolishes  Printing  Throughout  His  Kingdom — The 
League  of  Smalkalden  Declares  against  the  French 
King — Francis  Invites  Melancthon  to  France — Francis 
Declares  War  against  the  Duke  of  Savoy — Chabot 
Overruns  the  Duchy — The  Duke  Urges  the  Emperor 
to  Assist  Him — Death  of  Sforza — Charles  V.  Restores 
Alessandro  de'  Medici  to  the  Sovereignty  of  Florence 
— Death  of  the  Chancellor  Duprat — The  Queen  of  Na- 
varre at  Amboise — Ostentation  and  Profligacy  of  Ma- 
dame d'Etampes — The  Tournament — A  Street  Brawl — 
Narrow  Escape  of  the  Due  d'Angouleme — Removal 
of  the  Court  to  Chambord — The  King  and  Diana  of 
Poitiers — A  Moral  Mission — Diana  Resolves  to  Attempt 
the  Conquest  of  the  Due  d'Orleans — Her  Personal 
Attractions — Her  Ambition — A  Poem  of  the  Sixteenth 
Century — ^Jealousy  of  the  Duchesse  d'Etampes — She 
Demands  the  Exile  of  Diana  from  the  Court — Charles 
V.  Offers  to  Concede  the  Duchy  of  Milan  to  the  Due 


X  Contents 


d'Angouleme — Francis  Demands  it  for  the  Due 
d'Orleans — Tergiversation  of  the  Emperor — Charles  V. 
Renews  His  Alliance  with  the  Venetians — The  Negotia- 
tion Concerning  the  Milanese  is  Renewed — The  Empe- 
ror Proceeds  to  Rome — The  French  Ambassador  Urges 
Him  to  Perform  His  Promises — Charles  V.  Harangues 
the  Conclave,  and  Insults  Francis — He  Temporizes  with 
the  French  Ambassadors — The  Pope  Endeavours  to 
Pacify  Them — The  Address  to  the  Conclave  is  Garbled 
and  Forwarded  to  France — Moderation  of  Francis — The 
Cardinal  de  Lorraine  is  Despatched  to  the  Emperor  to 
Terminate  the  Affair  of  the  Milanese,  and  Fails — Im- 
perial Superstition — Treason  of  the  Marquis  de  Saluzzo 
— The  Pope  Declares  His  Neutrality — Charles  V.  Ex- 
cites the  German  Protestants  against  Francis — The 
Army  in  Savoy  is  Disarmed — Montmorenci  Insures  the 
Safety  of  the  Frontier — Francis  Proceeds  to  Lyons — 
Charles  V.  Declares  Himself  Suzerain  of  Provence — 
Francis  Prepares  for  an  Invasion 

CHAPTER  VIL 

1536. 

The  Emperor  Besiges  Turin — The  Fortress  of  Fossano  is 
Entrusted  by  Francis  I.  to  the  Marquis  de  Saluzzo — He 
Impedes  the  Progress  of  the  Works — The  French  Of- 
ficers Suspect  His  Good  Faith — He  Retires  to  Ravel 
— He  Betrays  His  Trust — Antonio  da  Leyva  Invests 
Fossano — The  Marquis  de  Saluzzo  is  Appointed  the 
Emperor's  Lieutenant  Beyond  the  Alps — Charles  V. 
Invades  Provence — M.  de  Montejan  is  Surprised  and 
Made  Prisoner  by  the  Imperialists — Empty  Boasting  of 
the  Emperor — Death  of  the  Dauphin  by  Poison — Trial 
and  Execution  of  Montecuculli — Francis  Accuses  the 
Imperialists  of  Instigating  the  Murder — Indignation  of 
Charles  V.  and  His  Generals — Catherine  de'  Medici  is 
in  Her  Turn  Accused  by  Da  Leyva — Progress  of  the 


PACK 


Contents  xi 

PAGE 

Imperial  Army — The  Emperor  Enters  Aix — Prince 
Henry  Joins  the  French  Camp — Marseilles  Successfully 
Resists  the  Imperialists — Francis  Determines  to  Head 
the  Army  in  Person — He  is  Dissuaded  by  His  Generals 
— Doria  Supplies  the  Emperor's  Camp — Retreat  of 
Charles  V. — The  Tower  of  Muy — The  Imperial  Forces 
Establish  Themselves  in  Savoy — The  Emperor  Pro- 
ceeds to  Spain — Is  Overtaken  by  a  Storm — The  Victor 
and  the  Vanquished 132 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

1536-38. 

Consternation  of  the  Italian  Princes — The  Siege  of  Turin 
is  Raised — The  Imperial  Troops  Enter  Picardy — Hero- 
ism of  the  Women  of  St.  Regnier — Capitulation  of  Guise 
— The  Imperialists  Besiege  Peronne — They  are  Re- 
pulsed by  Fleuranges — Death  of  Fleuranges — Alarm  in 
Paris — Annebaut  and  Burie  Defend  Turin — Burie  is 
Made  Captive  at  Casal — Francis  Strengthens  the 
Frontiers  of  Provence — James  V.  of  Scotland  Meets 
the  King  at  Lyons — James  V.  is  Married  to  the  Princess 
Marguerite — Jealousy  of  Henry  VIII. — Knight-er- 
rantry of  James  V. — Death  of  the  Princess  Marguerite 
— James  Demands  the  Hand  of  Marie  de  Guise — Feud 
between  the  Royal  Favourites — Virulence  of  the 
Duchesse  d'Etampes — Disunion  in  the  Royal  Family — 
Infatuation  of  Francis  I. — Apprehensions  of  Madame 
d'Etampes — Her  Passion  for  Montmorenci — Francis 
Lays  Claim  to  Flanders,  Artois,  and  Charlerois — Con- 
vocation of  the  Parliament — Charles  V.  is  Cited  to  Ap- 
pear before  the  French  Tribunals — The  Emperor  Disre- 
gards the  Summons — The  French  Enter  Artois — They 
Take  Hesdin — The  Imperialists  Invest  St.  Pol — The 
City  is  Taken  by  De  Buren — De  Buren  Marches  upon 
Teroueiine — Annebaut  Relieves  the  City — A  Fatal 
Skirmish — A  Truce  is  Effected  between  France,  Picar- 


xii  Contents 


FAGB 


dy,  and  the  Low  Countries — Francis  Openly  Avows  His 
Alliance  with  the  Sultan — Solyman  Enters  Albania — 
Del  Guasto  Successfully  Pursues  the  War  in  Piedmont 
— M.  d'Humieres  is  Appointed  to  the  Chief  Command 
of  the  French  Army  in  Italy — The  Marquis  de  Saluzzo 
Assists  Del  Guasto  in  the  Siege  of  Carmagnole — He  is 
Killed  by  a  Musket-ball — Carmagnole  Surrenders — 
Cruelty  of  the  Imperialist  General — The  Dauphin  and 
Montmorenci  March  to  Lyons,  and  are  Followed  by 
the  King — Del  Guasto  Fortifies  the  Pass-de-Suze,  which 
is  Forced  by  the  French — The  Imperialists  Raise  the 
Siege  of  Pignerol,  and  Encamp  at  Montcalier — The 
Dauphin  Compels  Them  to  Retreat,  and  Takes  the  City 
— Francis  Resolves  to  Take  the  Field  in  Person — The 
Truce  is  Extended  to  Piedmont — The  Duke  of  Savoy 
Retires  to  Nice — Charles  V.  Endeavours  to  Eflfect  an 
European  Peace,  and  Offers  the  Hand  of  His  Niece  to 
the  Due  d'Orleans — Francis  Objects  to  the  Proposed 
Conditions — Montmorenci  is  Created  Connetable — 
Death  of  the  Chancellor  du  Bourg 148 

CHAPTER  IX. 

1538. 

Paul  III.  Endeavours  to  Effect  a  Reconciliation  between 
the  Emperor  and  the  French  King — A  Meeting  of  the 
Three  Potentates  is  Proposed  at  Nice — Alarm  of  the 
Duke  of  Savoy — He  Appeals  to  the  Emperor — His  En- 
voy is  Coldly  Received — The  Populace  of  Nice  Close 
Their  Gates  against  the  Pope — Peril  of  Queen  Eleonora 
— The  Pope  Mediates  between  the  Two  Sovereigns — 
The  Truce  is  Renewed  for  a  Period  of  Ten  Years — 
The  Three  Potentates  Separate — Destitution  of  the 
Duke  of  Savoy — The  Emperor  Despatches  an  Ambassa- 
dor to  Francis — The  Two  Sovereigns  Meet  at  Aigues- 
Mortes — La  Belle  Feronniere — Illness  of  the  French 
King — Increasing  Power  of  Montmorenci — Revolt  of 


Contents  xiii 


PAGE 


Ghent — Charles  V.  Obtains  Permission  to  Traverse  the 
French  Territories — Madame  d'Etampes  and  the  Con- 
netable — A  Court  Intrigue — A  Court  BuflFoon — The 
Enamelled  Chain — Montmorenci  Loses  the  Favour  of 
the  King 178 


CHAPTER  X. 

1539-40. 

The  Emperor  Arrives  at  Bayonne — He  Refuses  to  Receive 
Hostages — The  Two  Sovereigns  Meet  at  Chatellerault 
— Triumphant  Reception  of  Charles  V. — Distrust  of  the 
Emperor — Unfortunate  Coincidences — The  Imperial 
Retinue — A  Court  Ball — The  Diamond  Ring — The  Em- 
peror Enters  Paris — The  French  Princes  and  Mont- 
morenci Accompany  Him  to  Valenciennes — Charles  Re- 
fuses to  Ratify  the  Cession  of  the  Milanese — Francis 
Becomes  Suspicious  of  His  Counsellors — Arrest  of  the 
Marechal  de  Brion  Chabot — Chabot  is  Tried  and  Con- 
demned to  Death — Cruel  Policy  of  Poyet — Chabot  is 
Pardoned  by  the  King — Arrest  of  Poyet — Female  In- 
fluence at  Court — Death  of  Chabot — The  Emperor  Pro- 
poses an  Alliance  between  His  Son  Philip  of  Spain  and 
the  Princess  of  Navarre — And  that  of  His  Own  Daugh- 
ter and  the  Ducd'Orleans — Refusal  of  Francis  to  Com- 
ply with  the  Required  Conditions — Disappointment  of 
the  King  and  Queen  of  Navarre — The  Negotiation  is 
Pursued — Marriage  of  the  Due  de  Cleves  and  the 
Princess  of  Navarre — Madame  d'Etampes  and  the  Cap- 
tain of  the  King's  Guard — Exile  of  Montmorenci  from 
the  Court — The  Marriage  Festivities — The  Due  de 
Cleves  Leaves  France — Benvenuto  Cellini  Arrives  at  the 
French  Court — Exile  of  the  Cardinal  de  Lorraine  .        .  200 


xiv  Contents 

CHAPTER  XI. 

1541-42. 

PACK 

Changed  Aspect  of  the  French  Court — Favour  of  the 
Marechal  d'Annebaut — The  Emperor  Invests  His  Own 
Son  with  the  Duchy  of  Milan — The  Venetians  Threaten 
to  Form  an  Alliance  with  Solyman — Charles  V.  and 
Francis  Despatch  Ambassadors  to  Venice — They  are 
Coldly  Received — Murder  of  Fregosa  and  Rincon — Du 
Bellay-Langei  Accuses  the  Imperialists  of  the  Crime — 
The  Assassins  are  put  to  Death  by  the  States  of  Venice 
— Francis  Summons  the  Emperor  to  Make  Reparation 
— Contemptuous  Reply  of  Charles  V. — Francis  Arrests 
the  Archbishop  of  Valence — Charles  Enters  into  a 
Truce  with  the  Protestant  Princes — Benda  Taken  by 
the  Turks — Charles  V.  Conducts  an  Expedition  against 
the  Algerines — His  Fleet  is  Dispersed  by  a  Tempest — 
The  Imperialists  Return  to  Spain — Francis  Resolves  to 
Declare  War  against  the  Emperor — The  French  Armies 
Open  Their  Campaign — The  Marechal  de  Gueldres  At- 
tacks the  Flemish  Frontiers — Alarm  of  the  Dowager- 
Queen  of  Hungary — Treachery  of  the  Duchesse 
d'Etampes — D'Annebaut  Seconds  Her  Views — Sus- 
picion of  the  King — The  Due  d'Orleans  Takes  Luxem- 
bourg— D'Annebaut  Supersedes  Langei  in  His  Com- 
mand in  Piedmont — Death  of  Langei — D'Annebaut  is 
Appointed  Admiral  of  France — Exile  of  Montpezat — 
Growing  Enmity  of  the  Two  Princes — Female  Policy — 
The  Court  of  Catherine  de'  Medici — The  "  Light  Bri- 
gade " — Revolt  of  La  Rochelle — Francis  Proceeds 
Thither — Suppresses  the  Insurrection  and  Pardons  the 
Citzens 234 


Contents  xv 

CHAPTER  XII. 
1542-43- 

FAGS 

Francis  Persecutes  the  Lutherans — He  Despatches  an  Am- 
bassador to  the  Sultan — The  French  Army  Marches 
Northward  —  D'Annebaut  Takes  Landrecies  —  The 
French  Besiege  Binche — The  Dauphin  is  Compelled  to 
Raise  the  Siege — Francis  Fortifies  Landrecies — The 
French  Court  Arrive  at  Rheims — Charles  V.  Effects  a 
Rupture  between  England  and  France — The  Emperor 
Organizes  a  New  Army — He  Attacks  Dueren — The  Citi- 
zens Refuses  to  Surrender — The  City  is  Taken  by  As- 
sault— The  Due  de  Cleves  Throws  Himself  on  the 
Mercy  of  the  Emperor — He  is  Restored  to  the  Imperial 
Favour — The  Marriage  of  the  Due  de  Cleves  and 
Jeanne  de  Navarre  is  Annulled — The  Emperor  Besieges 
Luxembourg — He  Raises  the  Siege,  and  Establishe-;  a 
Blockade — The  Imperialists  Take  Cambray,  and  Estab- 
lish Their  Winter-quarters  at  Guise — Solyman  De- 
spatches a  Fleet  under  Barbarossa  to  the  Assistance  of 
Francis — The  Comte  d'Enghien  Takes  the  Command 
of  the  War  Galleys  at  Marseilles — The  Combined  Fleets 
Attack  Nice,  and  are  Repulsed — D'Enghien  Returns  to 
Landrecies — The  European  Powers  are  Indignant  at 
the  Alliance  Formed  by  Francis  with  the  Turks — 
Enormities  Perpetrated  by  Barbarossa — Termination  of 
the  Campaign  of  1543 260 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
1544- 

Renewal  of  Hostilities — Financial  Embarrassments  of 
Francis — Sale  of  Judicial  Offices — The  French  King 
Raises  a  New  Army — D'Enghien  Blockades  Carignano 
— Blaise  de  Montluc  Proceeds  to  Court  to  Demand 
Supplies,  and  Permission  to  Engage  the  Enemy — Suc- 
cessful Eloquence  of  Montluc — Victory  of  Carignano 


xvi  Contents 


PAGE 


— The  Citizens  of  Ast  Close  Their  Gates  against  the 
Imperialists — Mortification  of  Del  Guasto  at  Milan — 
The  Jewelled  Watch — The  Emperor  and  Henry  VIII. 
Invade  France — Siege  of  St.  Dizier — Renewed  Treach- 
ery of  the  Duchesse  d'Etampes — St.  Dizier  Surrenders 
— Mutual  Distrust  of  Charles  V.  and  Henry  VIII. — 
The  English  King  Besieges  Boulogne  and  Montreuil — 
The  Two  Potentates  Cease  to  Act  in  Concert — Charles 
V.  Advances  to  Chalons 282 

CHAPTER   XIV. 
1544-45. 

Effects  of  the  Resistance  of  St.  Dizier — Charles  V.  En- 
deavours to  Effect  a  Peace — The  Queen  and  Madame 
d'Etampes  Induce  the  King  to  Enter  into  a  Negotiation 
with  the  Emperor — The  Dauphin  Demands  the  Recall 
of  Montmorenci — The  Comte  de  Furstemberg  is  Made 
Prisoner  by  the  French — Charles  V.  Determines  on  a 
Retreat  to  the  Low  Countries — Madame  d'Etampes 
Enables  Him  to  Possess  Himself  of  Epernay  and  Cha- 
teau Thierry — Alarm  of  the  Parisians — Prudent  Meas- 
ures of  the  Dauphin — Henry  VIII.  Takes  Boulogne — 
Francis  Concludes  a  Treaty  with  the  Emperor — The 
Negotiation  of  Marriage  between  the  Due  d'Orleans 
and  the  Daughter  of  the  Emperor  is  Renewed — Discon- 
tent of  the  Dauphin — He  Protests  against  the  Treaty 
— The  French  Army  Marches  into  Picardy — The  Dau- 
phin Makes  a  Night-attack  upon  Boulogne — The  French 
are  Repulsed — Gallantry  of  Montluc — Termination  of 
the  Campaign  of  1544 — The  Emperor  Resolves  to  Sup- 
press the  League  of  Smalkalden — Charles  V.  Deter- 
mines to  Bestow  the  Hand  of  His  Daughter  upon  the 
Due  d'Orleans — The  Emperor  Endeavours  to  Conciliate 
the  Pope — Persecution  of  the  Flemish  Reformers — 
Massacre  of  the  Vaudcyis — Imprudence  of  the  Dauphin 
— A  Court  Banquet — Disgrace  of  the  Dauphin — Francis 


Contents  xvii 


► 


PAGE 


Raises  a  Naval  Armament  against  England — He  Sends 
Succour  to  the  Dowager-Queen  of  Scotland — An  Army 
is  Despatched  to  Picardy — The  Banquet  on  Board  the 
Carraquon — D'Annebaut  Sails  with  the  French  Fleet 
— Operations  on  the  English  Coast — The  French  Land 
in  Sussex — Destroy  Brighton,  and  New  Haven,  and 
Take  Possession  of  the  Isle  of  Wight — The  French 
Fleet  Returns  to  Havre 307 

CHAPTER   XV. 

1545. 

Military  Operations  before  Boulogne — The  Comte  d'Au- 
male  is  Seriously  Wounded — The  German  Levies  of 
Henry  VHI.  Arrive  at  Liege — Francis  L  Opposes  Their 
Passage — Death  of  the  Due  d'Orleans — Invasion  of  the 
Terre  d'Oye — A  Treaty  of  Peace  is  Concluded  between 
England  and  France — The  Emperor  Refuses  to  Cede 
the  Duchy  of  Milan  to  the  French  Crown — Francis 
Strengthens  His  Frontiers  —  Death  of  Luther  —  The 
Emperor  Makes  War  upon  the  Protestant  Princes — 
Horrible  Persecution  of  the  Lutherans  in  France — 
Francis  I.  as  a  Monarch  and  a  Man — Death  of  Henry 
VIII. — Last  Illness  of  Francis  I. — Death  of  Francis  I. 
—  The  Chamber  of  the  Dauphiness  —  Accession  of 
Henry  II 340 


THE 

COURT  AND   REIGN  OF  FRANCIS  I 

CHAPTER  I. 

Francis  Sends  Ambassadors  to  Henry  VIII. — Magnificence  of 
the  Cardinal-Minister — The  Monarchs  of  France  and  Eng- 
land Declare  War  against  the  Emperor — Reply  of  Charles  V. 
— The  Defiance — The  Imperial  Ambassador  Retires  from 
France — Intemperate  Bearing  of  Francis  I. — The  Royal  Let- 
ter— The  Imperial  Cartel — Burgundy,  the  Herald-at-arms  of 
the  Emperor,  Arrives  on  the  French  Frontier — He  is  De- 
tained by  the  Governor  of  Bayonne — Burgundy  Follows  the 
King  to  Paris — He  Refuses  to  Remove  His  Coat  of  Mail  at 
the  Gates  of  the  Capital — Francis  Grants  Him  an  Audience, 
but  Refuses  to  Let  Him  Deliver  His  Message — Burgundy 
Leaves  France — The  Regal  Duel  is  not  Fought — The  Rival 
Sovereigns  Endeavour  to  Evade  a  War  —  Andrea  Doria 
Transfers  His  Allegiance  from  the  French  King  to  the  Em- 
peror— Lautrec  Makes  a  Last  Effort  to  Defend  Genoa — The 
Plague  Attacks  the  French  Army — Death  of  Lautrec — The 
Siege  of  Genoa  is  Raised — Pietro  da  Navarro  and  Saluzzo 
Die  of  Their  Wounds — The  Comte  de  St.  Pol  is  Defeated 
in  the  Milanese  —  Italy  is  Lost  to  the  French  —  Exhausted 
State  of  Europe — Clement  VII.  Makes  Terms  with  the  Em- 
peror— Francis  Negotiates  with  Charles  V. — Madame  d'An- 
gouleme  and  Margaret  d'Autriche  Meet  at  Cambray,  and 
Vol.  III.— I  I 


2  Reign  of 

Effect  a  Treaty — La  Paix  des  Dames — Undignified  Conces- 
sions of  Francis  I. — The  French  King  Abandons  His  Allies 
— Anne  de  Montmorenci  is  Despatched  to  Ransom  the  Young 
Princes — Duprat  Endeavours  to  Defraud  the  Emperor — 
Queen  Eleonora  and  the  Princes  Land  in  France — The  King 
and  His  Betrothed  Bride  Meet  at  Mont-de-Marsan — The 
Royal  Marriage — Francis  and  His  Suite  Proceed  to  Bordeaux 
— Coronation  of  the  Queen — Her  Solemn  Entry  into  the 
Capital — Public  Rejoicings — Melancholy  of  the  Royal  Bride 
— The  Wife  and  the  Mistress — Infatuation  of  Francis  L  for 
Madame  d'Etampes — The  Fortunes  of  a  Favourite's  Family 
— The  Duchesse  d'Etampes  Protects  Men  of  Letters — The 
Queen  and  the  Princes — Insolent  Ostentation  of  Madame 
d'Etampes. 

SHORTLY  after  the  departure  of  Wolsey  from 
France,  Francis  in  his  turn  despatched  an  em- 
bassy to  Henry  VIII.,  to  ratify  in  his  name  the  treaty 
which  had  been  concluded  between  the  two  powers ; 
and  to  convey  to  him  the  Collar  of  St.  Michael.  Anne 
de  Montmorenci,  to  whom  the  mission  was  entrusted, 
was  accompanied  by  a  number  of  the  first  nobles  of 
the  kingdom,  and  a  body  of  six  hundred  horse ;  and 
was  received  at  Dover  by  numerous  prelates  and  men 
of  rank,  by  whom  he  was  accompanied  to  the  capital. 
A  guard  of  honour  exceeding  a  thousand  men  formed 
his  escort,  and  g^eat  crowds  followed  him  to  the  ver>' 
gates  of  the  residence  which  had  been  prepared  for  his 
reception.  Two  days  subsequently  he  was  conducted 
to  the  castle  of  Greenwich,  where  the  King  was  then 
residing,  and  welcomed  with  regal  magnificence,  both 
by  the  monarch  and  his  minister.  A  succession  of 
brilliant  entertainments  were  given;  and  the  Prin- 
cess   Mar>'   performed    in   several   of   the   comedies 


Francis  I  3 

which  were  enacted  for  the  amusement  of  the  French 
courtiers. 

At  the  close  of  these  royal  festivities,  the  French 
envoys  were  conveyed  in  the  state  barges  to  the  palace 
at  Hampton  Court,  which  was  at  that  period  com- 
pleted, and  where  they  remained  for  several  days, 
amazed  and  bewildered  by  a  pomp  which  outvied  that 
of  the  King  himself.  Gorgeous  services  of  plate, 
hangings  of  precious  tapestry,  mirrors  of  almost  fabu- 
lous dimensions,  and  glorious  works  of  art,  crowded 
the  interior  of  the  building ;  while  its  immense  extent 
and  graceful  architecture,  together  with  the  spacious 
and  elaborately  designed  gardens  by  which  it  was  sur- 
rounded, with  their  stately  terraces,  numerous  foun- 
tains, and  the  variety  of  foreign  birds  which  peopled 
the  gilded  aviaries,  excited  their  admiration,  and  in- 
creased their  wonder.  Hence  they  returned  to  Green- 
wich, where,  after  a  farewell  banquet,  they  took  their 
leave  of  the  King  and  the  Cardinal,  leaving  Jean  de 
Bellay,  Bishop  of  Bayonne,  as  the  ambassador  of 
Francis  at  the  court  of  England. 

On  the  22d  of  January,  1528,  Guienne,  the  French 
King-at-arms,  and  Clarencieux,  who  bore  the  same 
rank  in  England,  each  carrying  his  heraldic  badge 
upon  his  left  arm,  in  order  to  assume  it  while  uttering 
his  defiance,  presented  themselves  before  the  Emperor 
at  Burgos,  who  awaited  their  appearance  in  the  midst 
of  his  barons ;  and  having  invoked  the  immunities  ac- 
corded to  their  office,  they  proceeded  to  read  aloud 
their  several  declarations  of  war,  which  were,  although 
firm  and  definitive,  nevertheless  couched  in  temperate 
and  even  courteous  terms. 


4  Reign  of 

The  Emperor  listened  throughout  in  dignified  but 
moody  silence,  never  betraying,  either  by  word  or 
gesture,  the  slightest  irritation  or  impatience ;  but  the 
ceremony  was  no  sooner  concluded  than  he  replied 
with  scornful  irony,  that  he  could  not  comprehend  how 
the  King  of  France,  who  had  made  war  upon  him 
during  six  or  seven  years  without  any  formal  declara- 
tion to  that  effect,  should  now  see  fit  to  send  him  a 
defiance,  when,  as  his  prisoner,  he  was  no  longer  free 
to  do  so ;  and  instructed  Guienne  to  remind  his  sover- 
eign, that  if  he  were,  indeed,  as  tenacious  of  his  honour 
as  he  would  fain  have  it  appear,  he  would  do  well  to 
remember  and  reply  to  a  message  which  he  had  sent 
to  him  two  years  previously  through  M.  de  Calvimont, 
his  ambassador.  The  defiance  of  Henry  VIII.  he 
declared  himself  ready  to  accept,  although  he  was 
aware  that  it  had  emanated  from  the  Cardinal-legate, 
who  had  never  forgiven  him  for  not  having,  by  force 
of  arms,  secured  his  elevation  to  the  Popedom,  as  both 
he  and  the  King  his  master,  at  his  instigation,  had 
urged  him  to  do.  He  then  delivered  to  the  two 
heralds  his  written  replies  to  their  respective  sov- 
ereigns. That  which  was  addressed  to  Francis  was 
merely  a  recapitulation  of  their  mutual  misunderstand- 
ings, and  the  several  negotiations  into  which  they 
had  entered ;  but  the  bitterness  of  feeling,  and  the 
jealous  animosity  which  it  betrayed,  were  well  cal- 
culated to  exasperate  the  proud  spirit  of  the  French 
King. 

In  reply  to  the  defiance  of  Henry,  and  the  reasons 
he  advanced  for  the  extreme  step  which  he  had  taken, 
Charles  reproached  him  with  his  intention  of  divorcing 


Francis  I  5 

liis  aunt,  Katherine  of  Aragon,  and  thus  bastardizing 
his  daughter  Mary,  to  whom  he  was  himself  betrothed  ; 
and  declared  that  little  confidence  could  be  placed  in 
the  zeal  which  the  English  monarch  affected  for  the 
Pope,  when  he  thus  disregarded  the  principles  of  re- 
ligion. 

The  allusion  to  a  message  which  he  had  never  re- 
ceived, but  which  had  been  purposely  withheld  from 
him  by  his  ambassador,  who  had  shrunk  from  the 
invidious  task  of  repeating  to  his  royal  master  so  gross 
an  implication  upon  his  honour,  aroused  the  haughty 
nature  of  Francis;  and  he  forthwith  wrote  to  M.  de 
Calvimont,  who  was  still  in  Spain,  demanding  an  im- 
mediate explanation.  Calvimont  was,  however,  too 
good  a  courtier  to  commit  himself;  and  he,  conse- 
quently, affected  to  have  forgotten  the  exact  purport 
of  the  words  addressed  to  him  by  the  Emperor,  plead- 
ing the  length  of  time  which  had  elapsed  since  the 
interview;  and  wrote  a  respectful  request  to  Charles 
himself,  that  he  would  repeat  them,  in  order  that 
he  might  be  enabled  to  submit  their  purport  to  his 
sovereign. 

The  reply  of  the  Emperor  was  speedy  and  disdainful. 
He  had,  he  said,  asserted  upon  that  occasion,  as  he  was 
still  prepared  to  do,  that  the  King  of  France  had  basely 
and  wilfully  violated  the  pledge  which  he  had  given  at 
Madrid ;  and  that,  should  he  affect  to  deny  that  such 
was  the  case,  he  would  maintain  the  truth  of  his 
accusation  to  his  teeth,  and  with  his  sword.  And, 
moreover,  that  he  had  then  and  there  declared,  that 
while  Christian  Europe  was  exposed  to  aggression  on 
all  sides,  the  sovereigns  to  whom  were  entrusted  the 


Reign  of 


lives  and  welfare  of  their  subjects,  had  no  right  to 
involve  them  in  merely  personal  quarrels,  which  might 
be  better  and  more  fitly  terminated  by  their  own  in- 
dividual prowess ;  an  opinion  which  he  still  main- 
tained. 

On  the  receipt  of  this  intelligence  the  exasperation 
of  Francis  exceeded  all  bounds ;  and  in  his  first 
paroxysm  of  passion,  he  caused  Perenot  de  Grand- 
velle,  the  imperial  ambassador,  to  be  arrested,  as 
Charles  had  previously  done  those  of  France,  and 
the  other  confederated  powers ;  but  on  ascertaining 
that  they  had  been  again  set  at  liberty,  he  revoked 
the  order ;  and  on  the  28th  of  March,  gave  him  his 
farewell  audience,  in  the  presence  of  the  assembled 
court. 

On  requesting  a  safe-conduct,  the  ambassador  ex- 
pressed his  regret  at  the  renewed  misunderstanding 
that  had  arisen  between  the  two  countries;  and  while 
thanking  the  King  for  the  consideration  and  courtesy 
which  he  had  experienced  during  his  sojourn  in 
France,  begged  his  Majesty  to  pardon  him,  if,  in  the 
exercise  of  his  duties,  he  had  ever  been  unfortunate 
enough  to  incur  his  displeasure. 

Francis  replied  by  testifying  his  regret,  that  recent 
circumstances  had  compelled  him  to  act  with  severity 
towards  a  person  whom  he  so  much  esteemed,  and 
whom  he  should  always  be  ready  to  serve  when  occa- 
sion offered  ;  and  then,  recurring  to  public  business,  he 
desired  him  to  convey  his  answer  to  the  challenge  of 
the  Emperor. 

From  this  dangerous  service  M.  de  Grandvelle, 
however,  excused  himself,  alleging  that  his  ofiicial 


Francis  I  7 

functions  had  ceased;  whereupon  the  King  com- 
manded Robertet,  the  Secretary  of  State,  to  read 
aloud  the  cartel  which  he  had  caused  to  be  drawn 
up. 

This  document  was  at  once  unkingly  and  undigni- 
fied. Passion  had  supplanted  alike  prudence  and 
courtesy  in  its  compilation.  It  evinced  no  trace  of 
the  chivalrous  feeling  upon  which  the  French  mon- 
arch prided  himself,  but  betrayed  a  coarse  and  bitter 
violence  that  was  ill  suited  to  the  exalted  rank  of  the 
writer :  "  If  you  have  sought  to  charge  us,"  ran  one 
passage,  "  with  having  acted  towards  you  in  any  way 
unbefitting  to  a  man  of  honour,  we  say  that  you  have 
lied  in  your  throat ;  and  that  each  time  you  repeat  it, 
you  will  lie.  Being  resolved  to  defend  our  honour  so 
long  as  we  have  life,  and  having  been  by  you  falsely 
accused,  henceforward  we  shall  write  to  you  no  more  ; 
you  have  only  to  name  the  place,  and  we  will  meet 
you  in  arms." 

Nor  was  even  its  coarseness  the  only  reproach  which 
must  be  visited  upon  the  cartel  of  Francis,  for  it  is 
certain  that  he  condescended  to  a  quibble,  where  he 
elsewhere  remarked :  "  You  have  accused  us,  by  de- 
claring that  we  had  pledged  our  faith,  and  that  in 
default  of  that  pledge  we  withdrew  from  your  custody 
and  power."  An  assertion  which  he  must  have  been 
aware  could  never  have  been  made  by  the  Emperor, 
who  had  publicly  recognized  his  conditional  departure 
from  his  dominions. 

Charles  V.  was  not  slow  to  detect  the  imprudence  of 
which  his  adversary  had  been  guilty ;  for  after  having 
in  his  reply  specified  the  bank  of  the  Bidassoa  as  the 


8  Reign  of 

place  of  meeting-,  he  remarked  in  allusion  to  this  accu- 
sation : — "  Such  words  were  never  uttered  by  us ;  we 
never  pretended  to  have  received  your  pledge  not  to 
leave  Spain,  but  only  your  promise  that  you  would 
again  return  according  to  our  prescribed  agreement ; 
and  had  you  done  so,  you  would  not  have  been  want- 
ing either  to  your  children  or  to  your  honour.  The 
spot  which  I  have  named,"  he  added  with  cold  sar- 
casm, "  must  be  familiar  to  you,  as  it  was  there  I  re- 
stored you  to  liberty,  and  received  your  children  at 
your  hands  as  pledges  for  the  performance  of  the  treaty 
which  you  have  so  shamefully  violated.  You  can  ad- 
vance no  reasonable  objection  to  such  a  place  of  meet- 
ing, as  it  is  equally  the  boundary  of  both  kingdoms; 
a  single  second  on  each  side  shall  make  the  necessary 
preparations,  and  select  the  weapons ;  and  if  you  indeed 
value  your  honour,  you  can  no  longer  advance  any 
pretext  for  failing  to  keep  the  appointment." 

Charged  with  this  missive,  a  herald-at-arms  was  at 
once  despatched  to  France  by  the  Emperor ;  who  was 
so  far  from  apprehending  that  his  adversary  would 
evade  the  duel  which  he  had  himself  provoked,  that  he 
applied  to  the  celebrated  Balthasar  Castiglione,  the 
author  of  //  Cortegiano,  to  become  his  second;  and,  in 
order  to  induce  his  compliance,  forwarded  to  him  a 
copy  of  the  treaty  of  Madrid,  to  convince  him  of  the 
justice  of  his  cause. 

The  precaution  was,  however,  unnecessary;  for, 
from  some  cause,  of  which  even  the  panegyrists  of 
Francis  can  give  no  explanation,  every  expedient  that 
could  be  invented  to  delay  the  progress  of  the  impe- 
rial herald  was  resorted  to.    He  was  detained  at  Font- 


Francis  I  9 

arabia  by  the  non-arrival  of  his  safe-conduct ;  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Bayonne,  after  having  inquired  whether  he 
were  the  bearer  of  the  Emperor's  reply  to  the  cartel 
of  the  King,  and  authorized  to  name  the  place  of 
meeting,  and  received  an  affirmative  answer,  affect- 
ed to  suspect  that  his  mission  had  some  ulterior  ob- 
ject, and  refused  to  furnish  him  with  a  passport  until 
he  should  receive  an  order  to  that  efifect  from  the 
sovereign. 

Burgundy  (the  herald)  had  reached  Fontarabia  on 
the  31st  of  June,  and  was  detained  there  upon  the  most 
frivolous  pretexts  until  the  17th  of  August,  when  his 
safe-conduct  was  at  length  delivered  to  him,  accom- 
panied by  an  autograph  letter,  in  which  Francis  re- 
proved the  Governor  for  having  impeded  his  entrance 
into  France.  Once  furnished  with  this  important 
document,  Burgundy  lost  no  time  in  journeying  to 
Etampes,  which  he  reached  on  the  7th  of  September ; 
but  on  his  arrival  there  he  was  met  by  Guienne,  who 
informed  him  that  the  King  was  hunting  at  Montfort 
d'Amaury,  and  that  he  had  received  an  order  to  con- 
duct him  to  Longjumeau,  where  he  would  be  apprised 
of  the  day  upon  which  the  monarch  would  receive  his 
message. 

At  Longjumeau  he  was  again  detained  for  several 
days,  until,  becoming  indignant  at  the  contemptuous 
neglect  shown  to  his  imperial  master,  he  insisted  upon 
proceeding  forthwith  to  the  capital,  whither  Francis 
had  removed.  He  accordingly  set  forth,  still  accom- 
panied by  the  French  herald ;  but  on  arriving  at  the 
gates  of  the  city,  Guienne  insisted  upon  his  removing 
the  tabard  which  he  wore,  and  on  which  were  blazoned 


lo  Reign  of 

the  arms  of  the  province  of  Burgundy.  The  imperial 
herald,  however,  peremptorily  refused  to  make  any 
such  concession,  declaring  that  it  involved  the  dig- 
nity of  his  sovereign,  who  claimed  the  said  province 
as  a  portion  of  his  territories;  upon  which  Guienne 
skilfully  attempted  to  excite  his  fears,  by  declaring 
that  his  personal  safety  was  involved  in  an  exhibi- 
tion which  would  be  regarded  by  the  populace  as  a 
premeditated  insult  alike  to  the  King  and  to  the 
nation. 

To  this  representation  Burgundy  haughtily  replied, 
that  he  was  ready  to  incur  any  danger  which  might 
ensue;  and  as  the  French  herald  soon  became  con- 
vinced that  further  opposition  would  be  useless,  the 
imperial  envoy  was  at  length  permitted  to  enter  the 
city  in  his  official  garb,  and  at  once  conducted  to  the 
presence  of  the  King,  who  had  assembled  about  him 
in  the  hall  of  the  palace  all  the  Princes  of  the  blood, 
the  prelates,  and  the  great  officers  of  state. 

A  cloud  was  on  the  brow  of  Francis,  and  a  red  spot 
had  risen  to  his  cheek  which  betrayed  his  irritation; 
nor  did  he  suffer  the  herald  to  complete  his  obeisance, 
ere  he  haughtily  demanded  if  he  were  come  to  fix  the 
place  of  combat. 

"  Sire,"  was  the  respectful  but  firm  rejoinder,  "  I 
entreat  your  Majesty  to  permit  me  to  perform  the 
duties  of  my  office,  and  to  deliver  the  message  with 
which  I  have  been  entrusted  by  my  imperial  master." 

"  I  will  hear  nothing,  Sir,  until  you  have  replied  to 
my  question,"  exclaimed  the  King  vehemently,  "  Give 
me  the  letter  of  the  Emperor,  and  then  you  may 
harangue  as  long  as  you  see  fit  to  do  so." 


Francis  I  ii 

"  Sire,"  caid  Burgundy,  with  a  composure  which 
only  tended  to  increase  the  violence  of  Francis,  "  my 
orders  were  first  to  read  the  cartel,  and  afterwards  to 
deliver  it."  And,  unfolding  the  letter  as  he  spoke,  he 
commenced  in  a  loud  firm  tone — *'  His  Most  Sacred 
Majesty  " — but  he  was  not  suffered  to  proceed  further: 
the  passion  of  the  King  could  no  longer  be  controlled, 
and  springing  from  his  seat,  he  struck  his  hand  vio- 
lently upon  the  hilt  of  his  dagger,  as  he  shouted  in  an 
imperious  tone — "  How  now,  Sir?  Does  your  master 
seek  to  prescribe  new  laws  to  me  in  my  own  kingdom, 
and  to  introduce  new  customs  at  my  court?  Is  this 
some  fresh  trick  of  his  cunning?  Give  me  the  cartel, 
or  leave  the  presence  as  you  came.  I  will  not  listen 
to  another  sentence  until  you  have  declared  the  place 
of  combat." 

Alarmed  by  the  intemperate  bearing  of  the  King, 
Montmorenci  made  an  effort  to  calm  his  anger,  but 
he  was  instantly  silenced;  upon  which  Burgundy  re- 
spectfully requested  that  as  his  Majesty  declined  to 
afford  him  an  opportunity  of  fulfilling  his  mission,  he 
might  receive  that  refusal  in  writing,  and  a  passport 
to  Spain. 

"  Let  both  be  furnished  to  him  forthwith,"  was  the 
immediate  retort  of  Francis,  as  he  turned  away;  and 
after  a  second  obeisance,  more  deliberate  and  more 
profound  than  that  which  he  had  made  upon  his  en- 
trance, the  imperial  herald  withdrew. 

Two  days  afterwards  he  received  his  safe-conduct, 
and  a  document  which  purported  to  be  a  report  of  the 
interview;  but  which  on  perusal  he  declined  to  accept, 
declaring  that  it  conveyed  no  impression  of  the  violent 


12  Reign  of 

conduct  of  the  King,  and  that  his  own  repHes  had  been 
garbled.  As  no  attention  was,  however,  paid  to  his 
objections,  he  left  Paris  on  the  i6th  of  September,  and 
returned  to  Spain  to  report  to  Charles  V.  the  issue  of 
his  mission. 

Thus  absurdly  terminated  an  affair  which  had  ex- 
cited the  attention  and  anxiety  of  all  Europe;  and  in 
which  it  will  be  at  once  apparent  that  the  King  of 
France  had  forfeited  all  claim  to  his  pretensions  as  the 
most  chivalric  monarch  of  Christendom.  That  he  was 
constitutionally  brave  there  can  be  no  doubt,  but  it  is 
nevertheless  certain  that  many  a  gallant  soldier  would 
make  but  a  sorry  duellist;  and  that  in  provoking  a 
personal  conflict  Francis  had  miscalculated  his  own 
strength.  A  dangerous  example  had,  meanwhile,  been 
afforded  to  the  more  hotheaded  of  the  nobility,  who 
thenceforth  began  to  decide  all  their  differences  by 
single  combat;  a  pernicious  fashion,  which  obtained  so 
greatly  throughout  France,  that  even  the  edicts  which 
were  during  several  subsequent  reigns  fulminated 
against  it,  failed  to  effect  its  suppression;  while  it 
spread  by  degrees  over  the  whole  of  Europe,  and  has 
not  to  the  present  day  ceased  to  be  recognized,  al- 
though the  strong  arm  of  ridicule  has,  in  a  great 
degree,  robbed  it  of  its  prestige. 

Charles,  on  his  side,  made  no  efforts  to  revenge 
the  affront  offered  to  himself  in  the  person  of  his 
herald,  but  quietly  suffered  the  whole  proceeding  to 
fall  into  oblivion;  nor  did  either  of  the  hostile  sover- 
eigns, confirmed  as  their  hatred  had  now  become, 
display  any  increase  of  vigour  in  their  warlike  opera- 
tions. 


Francis  I  13 

Lautrec,  despite  the  jealousy  of  the  ItaHan  states, 
had  been  eminently  successful  in  the  Milanese,  and 
had,  by  his  interference,  compelled  the  Emperor  into 
a  capitulation  with  the  Pope,  who,  after  making  sun- 
dry concessions,  again  saw  himself  at  liberty,  and  took 
up  his  abode  at  Orvieto,  where  he  once  more  offered 
his  services  as  mediator  between  the  belligerent  par- 
ties; while  the  Comte  de  St.  Pol,  after  retaking  Pavia, 
was  suddenly  paralysed  in  his  operations,  as  all  the 
former  generals  of  Francis  had  previously  been,  by 
the  failure  of  supplies. 

A  still  more  important  check  was,  moreover,  given 
to  the  French  arms  by  the  alienation  of  Andrea  Doria, 
who  had  so  essentially  served  France  throughout  the 
wars,  but  who  at  length  became  indignant  at  the 
neglect  and  injustice  by  which  he  had  been  requited, 
and  transferred  his  allegiance  to  the  Emperor.  His 
first  exploit  against  his  late  allies  was  the  maritime 
defence  and  revictualling  of  Naples,  which  was  be- 
sieged by  Lautrec;  in  whose  camp  the  plague  was  at 
that  critical  juncture  making  fearful  ravages,  thinning 
his  ranks  daily,  and  carrying  ofif  many  of  his  ablest 
officers.  As  the  Genoese  galleys  appeared  in  the  bay, 
and  he  ascertained  that  they  were  commanded  by  his 
old  friend  and  companion  in  arms,  the  Marechal  was 
made  painfully  aware  of  the  error  committed  by  his 
sovereign  in  so  wilfully  disregarding  the  value  of  such 
an  ally;  but  like  a  brave  man  he  only  redoubled  his 
exertions;  and  even  when  himself  attacked  by  the 
pestilence,  persisted  in  visiting  the  hospitals,  and  en- 
couraging the  troops  with  assurances  that  their  mon- 
arch would  not  suffer  them  to  remain  long  exposed 


14  Reign  of 

to  such  a  complication  of  dangers  without  affording 
them  help. 

And  Lautrec  was  sincere  when  he  thus  addressed 
them;  for  he  believed  firmly  and  loyally  that  Francis 
would  never  sacrifice,  by  a  negligence  at  once  heart- 
less and  impolitic,  the  advantages  which  had  been  so 
dearly  earned;  and  strong  in  this  conviction  he  re- 
fused to  raise  the  siege,  even  when  the  increased  viru- 
lence of  the  disease  confined  him  to  his  bed.  Still  the 
plague  decimated  his  troops,  and  still  the  promised 
reinforcements  failed ;  when,  amid  the  paroxysms  of  his 
agony,  suspecting  that  he  was  wilfully  deceived  by 
those  about  him,  who  declared  that  the  epidemic  had 
ceased  its  ravages,  he  privately  questioned  two  of  his 
pages,  whose  reluctance  to  reveal  the  truth  he  over- 
came by  a  threat  that  they  should  be  scourged  to  death 
if  they  attempted  to  misrepresent  it;  and  learned  that 
the  camp  was  one  wide  scene  of  terror  and  despair; 
that  the  water-springs  had  been  poisoned,  and  that  the 
grain  was  similarly  infected  which  was  brought  in  by 
the  peasants. 

Already  debilitated  by  the  fearful  disease  under 
which  he  was  suffering,  and  overcome  by  the  terrible 
tidings  of  the  trembling  youths,  the  Marechal  clasped 
his  hands  upon  his  forehead  for  a  moment,  and  then, 
uttering  a  deep  groan,  sank  back,  and  instantly  ex- 
pired 

The  fact  was  no  sooner  ascertained  than  the  siege 
was  raised;  and  the  army,  under  the  command  of  the 
Marquis  de  Saluzzo,  retired  to  Averso;  but,  during 
the  retreat,  Pietro  da  Navarro  was  made  prisoner,  and 
Saluzzo  himself  so  severely  wounded  that  he  was  com- 


Francis  I  15 

pelled  to  capitulate.  All  the  fortresses  which  had  been 
taken  by  the  French  in  the  Neapolitan  territories  were 
surrendered,  and  both  Navarro  and  Saluzzo  died  of 
their  wounds. 

The  Comte  de  Saint  Pol,  in  the  spring  of  the  follow- 
ing year,  (1529,)  was  equally  unfortunate  in  the  Milan- 
ese; and  after  a  protracted  struggle  during  which  he 
narrowly  escaped  being  taken  by  the  enemy,  his  army 
was  totally  routed,  and  once  more  Italy  was  entirely 
evacuated  by  the  French. 

Europe  was  at  this  period  weary  of  warfare.  The 
several  nations  were  exhausted  by  a  struggle  in  which 
neither  had  triumphed.  The  treasury  of  the  Emperor 
was  as  empty  as  that  of  his  rival.  Their  subjects  were 
alike  crushed  to  the  earth  by  taxation,  and  sickened 
by  disappointment.  Italy  could  no  longer  be  made 
the  granary  whence  each  drew  the  necessary  pro- 
visions for  a  large  body  of  armed  men,  for  years  of 
extortion  and  tyranny  had  made  her  fertile  plains 
desolate,  and  her  prolific  valleys  barren;  and  both 
potentates  were  consequently  compelled  to  maintain  at 
least  a  semblance  of  peace,  which  afforded  breathing 
time  to  their  respective  kingdoms. 

The  Pope,  satisfied  that  he  could  no  longer  antici- 
pate any  eflfectual  aid  from  France,  and  aware  that  he 
was  too  weak  to  contend  against  the  Emperor  without 
extraneous  support,  made  proposals  of  peace,  which 
were  accepted  by  Charles  V.,  and  the  treaty  was  rati- 
fied at  Barcelona  on  the  29th  of  June;  while  Francis, 
whose  recent  discomfiture  in  Italy  had  convinced  him 
that  he  must  fail  in  an  attempt  to  liberate  his  sons  by 
force  of  arms,  no  sooner  ascertained  the  existence  of 


i6  Reign  of 

this  treaty  than  he  resolved,  if  possible,  to  effect  his 
object  by  more  pacific  measures;  and  accordingly, 
entered  into  negotiations,  by  which  it  was  subsequently 
determined  that  Louise  de  Savoie  on  his  own  part, 
and  Marguerite  d'Autriche  on  that  of  the  Emperor, 
should  meet  at  Cambray,  and  arrange  the  conditions 
upon  which  the  French  Princes  were  to  obtain  their 
release. 

The  7th  of  July  was  the  day  appointed  for  the  meet- 
ing of  the  two  Princesses,  who,  by  the  marriage  of  the 
Governante  of  the  Low  Countries  (then  a  widow)  with 
Philibert  IL,  Duke  of  Savtoy,  had  become  sisters-in- 
law. 

Each  of  the  female  diplomatists  was  fully  equal  to 
the  task  which  had  thus  devolved  upon  her.  The 
Duchess-mother  had,  since  the  accession  of  her  son, 
been  the  actual  sovereign  of  France,  and  could  act 
without  fear  of  contradiction  or  dissent,  whatever 
might  be  the  measures  which  she  saw  fit  to  adopt; 
while  Marguerite,  who,  as  it  may  be  remembered,  had 
been  educated  at  the  French  court,  and  betrothed  to 
Charles  VIIL,  was  not  only  a  woman  of  extreme  tact 
and  intelligence,  but  was  also  well  acquainted  with  the 
prejudices  and  feelings  of  the  country  which  had  so 
long  been  her  home;  and  possessed  the  entire  confi- 
dence of  the  Emperor  her  cousin. 

On  their  arrival  at  Cambray,  the  two  Princesses 
were  lodged  in  contiguous  houses;  but  not  content 
with  this  arrangement,  and  anxious  to  confer  together 
without  interruption,  they  caused  a  communication  to 
be  opened  between  their  respective  dwellings,  in  order 
that  they  might  meet  at  all  hours  without  witnesses, 


Francis  I  17 

or  the  irksome  ceremonial  attendant  upon  an  official 
conference. 

The  prudence  and  judgment  of  this  measure  soon 
became  manifest,  for,  thus  released  from  the  conflicting 
arguments  of  interested  individuals,  they  were  enabled 
to  effect  a  peace,  which  was,  owing  to  their  agency, 
known  as  La  Paix  des  Dames.  Equally  anxious  to 
effect  their  object,  they  made  mutual  concessions;  and 
on  the  5th  of  August  the  articles  were  drawn  up  and 
the  treaty  signed  by  both  parties:  the  Duchess-mother 
agreeing  on  the  part  of  her  son,  that  he  should  relin- 
quish Artois  and  Flanders  to  the  Emperor;  withdraw 
his  claim  to  Italy;  espouse  without  further  delay  the 
Queen  Eleonora;  and  secure  to  their  male  issue  the 
contested  duchy  of  Burgundy.  He  was,  moreover,  to 
pay,  as  ransom-money  for  the  young  Princes,  the  sum 
of  two  millions  of  golden  crowns,  and  to  discharge  the 
debt  of  the  Emperor  to  England ;  as  well  as  to  revoke 
the  attainder  of  the  Due  de  Bourbon;  to  authorise  the 
succession  of  his  heirs,  and  to  reinstate  in  their  posses- 
sions all  the  French  subjects  who  had  been  involved  in 
his  rebellion;  while  Charles,  on  his  part,  was  engaged 
to  recognise  the  claim  of  Francis  to  the  duchy  of  Bur- 
gundy, with  the  solitary  exception  of  Charolois,  which 
was  to  remain  the  property  of  Madame  Marguerite,  and 
was,  after  her  demise,  to  become  a  life-tenure  of  the 
Emperor,  at  whose  death  it  was  again  to  revert  to  the 
French  crown. 

The  characters  of  the  two  contracting  parties  were 

strikingly    exhibited   in    this    treaty.     In    rent)uncing 

Italy  no  attempt  was  made  on  the  part  of  Louise  de 

Savoie  to  secure  favourable  terms  for  the  states  of 

Vol.  III.— 2 


i8  Reign  of 

Florence  and  Venice,  which  had  during  so  long  a 
period  been  the  faithful  allies  of  France;  but  on  the 
contrary,  she  engaged  that,  within  the  space  of  four 
months,  the  former  should  swear  allegiance  to  the 
Emperor,  and  the  latter  make  restitution  of  all  the 
territory  of  which  they  had  possessed  themselves  with- 
in the  kingdom  of  Naples;  or,  in  default  of  such 
restitution,  be  compelled  by  force  of  arms  to  fulfil  the 
obligation.  The  interests  of  the  Due  de  Gueldres 
were  also  abandoned,  as  well  as  those  of  Robert  de  la 
Mark;  and,  in  fine,  the  King  was  pledged  to  desert 
all  his  allies  upon  his  northern  frontier,  not  even 
excepting  Henri  of  Navarre,  the  husband  of  his  sister. 
Thus,  the  brave  men  who  had  shared  his  dangers,  and 
to  whom  he  owed  the  success  of  many  a  well-fought 
field,  were  recklessly  left  to  the  mercy  of  the  sovereign 
against  whom  they  had  so  often  appeared  in  arms; 
while  Marguerite  d'Autriche  refused  to  accede  to 
every  suggestion  which  threatened  to  involve  the  safety 
of  the  Emperor's  foreign  adherents,  and  made  the  resti- 
tution of  Bourbon's  honour  one  of  the  salient  features 
of  the  treaty. 

Nor  was  the  humiliation  to  which  Francis  was  thus 
subjected  confined  to  these  ignoble  concessions;  for, 
after  the  publication  of  the  treaty,  when  Montmo- 
renci  was  despatched  to  the  Spanish  frontier  with 
the  money  necessary  to  ransom  the  young  Princes, 
it  was  discovered  that  the  Chancellor  Duprat  had 
further  disgraced  his  royal  master,  by  endeavour- 
ing to  defraud  the  Emperor  both  in  the  weight  and 
value  of  the  specie  destined  for  that  purpose.  This 
false   dealing  was,   however,   at   once   detected,   and 


Francis  I  19 

the  mortified  and  indignant  Marechal  found  himself 
compelled  to  delay  his  errand  until  the  deficiency  was 
supplied. 

The  exchange  was  then  effected  precisely  as  that  of 
Francis  himself  had  previously  been.  From  the  Span- 
ish bank  of  the  Bidassoa  the  Queen  of  Portugal, 
accompanied  by  the  Dauphin  and  his  brother,  and 
attended  by  the  Constable  of  Castile  and  her  personal 
suite,  embarked  at  the  same  moment  that  Montmo- 
renci  left  the  shore  of  Navarre  with  the  sealed  cases 
containing  the  treasure.  The  several  parties  then 
ascended  the  barge  which  was  moored  in  the  centre 
of  the  stream,  where  the  Queen,  having  taken  leave 
of  her  escort,  entered  the  boat  which  was  awaiting  her, 
and  landed  in  France  with  the  Princes.  M.  de  Mont- 
pezat  was  then  despatched  to  inform  the  King  of  her 
arrival,  who  was  awaiting  the  intelligence  at  Bordeaux, 
and  who  immediately  set  forth  to  meet  her.  The 
interview  took  place  in  the  convent  of  Verrieres,  near 
Mont-de-Marsan,  where  Francis,  having  briefly  wel- 
comed his  betrothed  wife,  withdrew  with  his  sons,  in 
order  that  she  might  be  enabled  to  prepare  herself  for 
their  marriage,  which  was  celebrated  on  the  morrow 
an  hour  before  dawn,  with  a  haste  and  absence  of  all 
attempt  at  magnificence,  strangely  at  variance  with  the 
usual  habits  of  the  French  court. 

At  the  close  of  the  ceremony  the  royal  bride  was 
conducted  to  her  litter,  and  the  bridal  train  entered 
Bordeaux,  whence  they  proceeded  by  Coignac,  Am- 
boise,  and  Blois,  to  St.  Germain-en-Laye,  where  they 
sojourned  during  the  necessary  preparations  for  the 
coronation  of  the  Queen,  and  her  solemn  entry  into 


2d  Reign  of 

the  city  of  Paris ;  which  events  took  place,  the  first  on 
the  5th  of  March,  at  St.  Denis,  and  the  second  on  the 
15th  of  the  same  month,  when  she  at  length  received 
the  honours  due  to  her  distinguished  rank. 

Once  more  the  palace  of  the  Tournelles  and  the  villa 
of  the  Tuileries  were  loud  with  festivity.  Banquets 
and  tournaments  succeeded  each  other  by  day,  while 
balls  and  receptions  occupied  the  night  hours.  The 
royal  saloons  blazed  with  jewels,  and  beamed  with 
beauty;  illuminated  barges  rode  on  the  ripple  of  the 
Seine,  and  invisible  musicians  made  one  wide  or- 
chestra of  the  lamp-lit  gardens;  the  citizens,  de- 
lighted to  find  themselves  once  more  in  security,  wel- 
comed their  new  Queen  as  the  visible  earnest  of  their 
safety;  and  the  same  nobles  who  had  knelt  in  hom- 
age before  the  meek  and  sainted  Claude,  were  now 
equally  assiduous  in  striving  to  obtain  the  smiles  of 
her  successor. 

But  even  amid  all  the  splendour  by  which  she  was 
surrounded,  the  Queen  could  not  conceal  her  melan- 
choly. She  had  been  deeply  wounded  by  the  nature 
of  her  reception  in  France,  incompatible  as  it  was  with 
all  the  rumours  which  had  reached  her  of  the  gallantry 
and  magnificence  of  her  enforced  bridegroom;  but, 
although  stung  by  the  indignity  to  which  she  had  been 
subjected,  she  had  felt  little  surprise;  as  even  during 
his  captivity  at  Madrid,  Francis  had  exhibited  towards 
her  a  marked  coldness,  that  appeared  intended  to  pre- 
pare her  for  the  neglect  to  which  she  would  be  con- 
signed after  her  marriage.  Nor  had  her  presenti- 
ment been  unfounded ;  for  although  he  never  violated 
the  respect  due  to  her  as  Queen  of  France,  his  indiffer- 


Francis  I  21 

ence  was,  even  at  this  early  period,  so  undisguised, 
and  his  levity  so  unrestrained,  that  she  experienced  a 
sense  of  desolation  even  when  she  formed  the  centre 
of  a  crowd.  Still  her  Spanish  pride  upheld  her;  and 
if,  at  times,  the  tears  welled  unbidden,  she  drove  them 
back,  and  assumed  a  composure  that  she  was  far  from 
feeling.  But  moments  were  not  wanting  in  which  all 
her  indignation  was  aroused ;  and  one  of  these  occurred 
even  in  the  midst  of  the  festivities  consequent  upon 
her  coronation. 

At  her  first  official  reception,  she  occupied  the  centre 
of  the  dais,  having  the  Duchess-mother  on  her  right 
hand,  and  the  Queen  of  Navarre,  who  had  come  to 
France  to  welcome  her,  upon  her  left ;  while  the  King, 
who  should  have  afforded  her  the  support  of  his  pres- 
ence, was  engaged  in  an  animated  conversation  with 
Madame  d'Etampes;  who,  stiff  with  brocade,  and 
sparkling  with  jewels,  was  standing  negligently  near  a 
window,  and  turning  at  intervals  a  curious  and  almost 
contemptuous  glance  towards  her  new  sovereign.  At 
length,  however,  the  name  of  the  favourite  was  an- 
nounced by  the  Mistress  of  the  Household,  and  she 
advanced  to  the  step  of  the  dais  with  the  mien  and  de- 
portment of  an  empress;  but  Eleonora  had  already 
comprehended  her  position,  and,  outraged  by  an  au- 
dacity for  which  she  had  been  unprepared,  instead  of 
presenting  her  hand  as  the  proud  Duchess  knelt  before 
her,  she  suddenly  turned  her  head  aside,  and  entered 
into  conversation  with  the  Queen  of  Navarre,  leaving 
the  arrogant  beauty  to  retire  at  her  leisure.  For  a 
moment  even  Anne  de  Pisseleu  felt  embarrassed; 
but  she  quickly  recovered  her  self-possession ;  and  as 


22  Reign  of 

she  rose  slowly  from  her  knee,  she  murmured,  in 
a  tone  sufficiently  audible  to  reach  the  ear  of  the 
Queen :  "  Ha !  is  it  so  ?  You  disdain  to  oflFer  me 
your  hand.  It  is  to  be  a  trial  of  strength  between  us, 
and  I  accept  the  challenge.  Your  husband  shall  re- 
venge me." 

And  that  he  did  so  there  can  exist  no  doubt ;  for  his 
excessive  passion  for  the  artful  favourite  had  blinded 
him  to  her  vices.  Already  had  she  taught  him  that 
her  love  was  to  be  retained  only  by  an  entire  devo- 
tion; and  even  while  he  suffered  her  to  become  the 
arbiter  of  his  own  actions,  she  betrayed  him  with  a 
recklessness  as  bold  as  it  was  degrading.  Nothing, 
moreover,  could  satisfy  her  rapacity;  and  while  dis- 
tress, which  amounted  almost  to  famine,  oppressed  the 
lower  classes  of  the  citizens,  she  greedily  seized  upon 
every  opportunity  of  enriching  herself  and  aggrandiz- 
ing her  family. 

It  is  curious  to  trace  the  extent  to  which  she  suc- 
ceeded in  effecting  the  latter  object,  and  the  digression 
will  accordingly  be  pardoned.  Within  a  few  years, 
her  hiatemal  uncle,  Antoine  Sanguin,  became  the 
Abbot  of  Fleury-sur-Loire,  Bishop  of  Orleans,  a  Car- 
dinal and  Archbishop  of  Toulouse ;  Charles,  her  elder 
brother,  was  made  Abbot  of  Bourgueil  and  Bishop  of 
Condom;  Francis,  the  second,  received  the  Abbey  of 
Saint  Corneille  de  Compiegne,  and  the  Bishopric  of 
Amiens ; .  and  William,  the  youngest,  was  elevated  to 
the  See  of  Pamiers.  Nor  were  her  sisters  forgotten ; 
two  of  them  became  the  abbesses  of  wealthy  convents, 
and  the  other  three  were  married  into  the  noble 
families  of  Barbanqon-Cauny,  Chabot-Jarnac,  and  Ver- 


Francis  I  23 

tus.  Numerous,  also,  were  the  cousins  and  distant 
connections  for  whom  she  provided  no  less  liberally; 
and,  as  is  ever  the  case  with  individuals  suddenly  ag- 
grandized, their  ramifications  were  ere  long  endless; 
nor  did  one  of  them,  even  although  many  were,  as  we 
have  shown,  in  holy  orders,  hesitate  for  a  moment  to 
profit  by  her  disgrace. 

One  merit  must,  however,  be  conceded  to  Anne  de 
Pisseleu ;  and  as  throughout  her  whole  career  we  have 
been  unable  to  trace  any  other  good  quality  which  she 
possessed,  it  cannot  be  passed  over  in  silence.  Edu- 
cated highly  for  the  period,  she  loved  study  for  its  own 
sake,  and  afforded  protection  to  men  of  letters;  al- 
though it  must  be  admitted  that,  wherever  her  passions 
or  her  vanity  were  brought  into  play,  she  abandoned 
them  and  their  interests  without  hesitation  or  scruple. 
Nevertheless,  it  is  certain  that  she  co-operated,  not 
only  willingly,  but  even  zealously,  with  the  King  in 
attracting  to  the  court  of  France  all  the  distinguished 
talent  of  Europe ;  and  was  moreover  able  to  appreciate 
the  excellence  of  which  it  soon  became  the  focus.  But 
the  ostentation  with  which  she  assumed  to  herself  the 
attitude  of  a  patroness  was  calculated  to  arouse  the 
indignation  of  the  Queen,  who  witnessed  with  sup- 
pressed but  deep  displeasure  this  usurpation  of  her 
privileges. 

It  was  not  long,  indeed,  ere  the  unhappy  Eleonora 
discovered  that  she  was  a  mere  cypher  at  her  husband's 
court.  It  is  true  that  when  she  was  seen  in  public  on 
the  occasion  of  some  gorgeous  procession  to  St.  Denis 
or  Notre  Dame,  attired  in  velvet  and  cloth  of  gold, 
and   sparkling   with   jewels,   the    delighted   populace 


24  Reign  of 

lustily  shouted  Noel  for  their  stately  Queen ;  but  this 
empty  and  boisterous  homage  was  the  only  tribute 
offered  to  her  exalted  rank. 

The  courtiers  had  little  time  beyond  that  exacted 
by  the  strict  ceremonial  of  the  court  to  spare  to  one 
so  powerless;  and  as  it  had  been  the  pleasure  of  her 
royal  husband  that  she  should  dismiss  the  greater 
number  of  her  Spanish  attendants,  her  solitude  was 
seldom  invaded  save  by  the  young  Princes,  the  two 
elder  of  whom  had  become  sincerely  attached  to  her 
during  their  detention  at  Madrid ;  an  affection  which 
she  returned  with  equal  warmth.  Of  these  the  Dau- 
phin was  her  peculiar  favourite;  for,  young  as  he 
was,  his  calm,  self-possessed  and  temperate  disposi- 
tion was  almost  Spanish  in  its  character,  and  she 
never  feared  from  him  the  wild  and  ungoverned  sallies 
into  which  his  younger  brothers  were  occasionally  be- 
trayed. 

Isolated  as  she  was,  however,  Eleonora  scorned  to 
complain;  and,  although  she  ill  brooked  the  insults 
to  which  she  was  daily  subjected,  she  uttered  no  re- 
monstrance. 

By  slow  degrees  she  withdrew  herself  from  the 
more  public  circles  of  the  court,  and,  as  the  unhappy 
Claude,  her  predecessor,  had  previously  done,  she 
sought  in  works  of  piety  to  stifle  the  murmurs  of  her 
heart.  Often  as  she  sat  at  her  open  casement  she 
watched  with  swimming  eyes  the  gorgeous  litter  of  the 
favourite,  with  its  draperies  of  pale  blue  velvet,  and 
its  train  of  pages,  as  it  issued  from  the  palace  gates 
with  almost  regal  pomp ;  but  not  even  to  her  mother- 
in-law,  who,  from  motives  of  policy,  treated  her  with  a 


Francis  I 


25 


courtesy  for  which  she  was  in  a  great  degree  indebted 
to  the  fact  of  her  utter  powerlessness  to  thwart  her 
measures,  or  to  undermine  her  influence,  did  she  vent- 
ure to  complain  of  the  insolence  under  which  she 
writhed. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Francis  I.  and  the  Royal  College — He  Establishes  Professor- 
ships— Illustrious  Scholars — Duprat  Dissuades  the  King 
from  Founding  the  College — The  Jealousy  of  Francis  is  Ex- 
cited by  the  Progress  of  the  Reformation — Jean  le  Qerc  is 
Burnt  Alive  at  Meaux  for  Heresy — An  Effigy  of  the  Virgin 
is  Desecrated  at  Paris — Superstition  of  Francis  I. — The  Sil- 
ver Image — A  Regal  Procession — The  King  Persecutes  the 
Lutherans — Louis  de  Berguin  is  Burnt  Alive  in  the  Place  de 
Greve — The  Ecclesiastical  Tribunals  Judge  and  Condemn 
the  Protestants — The  Queen  of  Navarre  Intercedes  in  Vain 
for  the  Victims — Cruelty  of  Francis  I. — Symptoms  of  Re- 
newed Hostilities — Meeting  between  the  Pope  and  the  Em- 
peror— They  Conclude  a  Treaty — Charles  V.  Restores  the 
Milanese  to  Francesco  Sforza — Indignation  of  Francis — Ter- 
ror of  the  French  Queen — Eleonora  Invites  a  Nobleman  of 
Her  Brother's  Court  to  France — An  Interview  is  Arranged 
between  the  Emperor  and  Francis — Death  of  Louise  de 
Savoie — Her  Treasure-chest — The  French  King  Liberates  the 
Territories  of  the  Low  Countries — Death  of  Marguerite 
d'Autriche — Contrast  between  the  Two  Princesses. 


THE  pacification  of  Europe  once  more  enabled 
Francis  I.  to  turn  his  attention  to  the  internal 
economy  of  his  kingdom,  and  to  revert  to  his  original 
project  of  establishing  a  royal  college ;  for  vvhicii  pur- 
pose he  invited  to  his  court  the  most  learned  men  of 
the  age,  to  whom  he  offered  the  several  professor- 

26 


Francis  I  27 

ships,  with  each  a  magnificent  stipend.  In  addition 
to  the  eminent  scholars  to  whom  we  have  elsewhere 
alluded,  a  number  of  the  Italian  literati,  who  had  been 
proscribed  by  the  Emperor  for  the  share  which  they 
had  taken  in  the  late  wars,  found  a  ready  and  an 
honourable  refuge  under  his  protection.  Among 
these  illustrious  exiles  were  Luigi-  Alamanni,*  a  Flor- 
entine poet,  who  soon  became  so  great  a  favourite  of 
the  King  as  to  be  not  only  admitted  to  his  intimacy, 
but  even  employed  upon  several  embassies ;  Bruto,  the 
Florentine  historian ;  Niccolo  dell'  Abbate ;  and  Rosso 
del  Rosso,f  who,  in  conjunction  with  Primaticcio, 
executed  the  paintings  and  statues  of  the  palace  of 
Fontainebleau ;  Tagliacarno,  who  became  the  pre- 
ceptor of  his  sons,  and  upon  whom  he  bestowed  the 
Bishopric  of  Grasse ;  and  a  number  of  other  celebrated 
scholars,  as  well  as  a  crowd  of  capitalists,  merchants, 
and  craftsmen,  who  established  themselves  in  France, 
and  exercised  in  their  adopted  country  those  talents 

*  Luigi  Alamanni  was  born  in  1493.  Having  entered  into  a  conspiracy 
against  Julio  de'  Medici,  subsequently  Clement  VII.,  he  took  refuge  in 
France.  Henry  II.  continued  to  him  the  same  protection  and  favour 
which  he  had  experienced  from  Francis  I.  He  left  behind  him  a  col- 
lection of  poems,  a  didactic  poem  entitled  Opere  Toscane,  the  Cultivasione, 
Cirone  il  Cortese,  a  heroic  poem,  and  the  Avarchide,  a  Florian  comedy. 
He  died  in  1556. 

t  Rosso  del  Rosso,  familiarly  known  as  Maitre-Roux,  was  born  at 
Florence,  in  1496;  and  by  the  mere  strength  of  his  genius,  and  his  close 
study  of  Michael  Angelo  and  Parmesan  (Massuoli),  became  one  of  the 
most  famous  painters  of  his  time.  The  grand  gallery  of  Fontainebleau 
was  built  after  his  designs,  which  were  rewarded  by  Francis  I.  with  a 
canonry  at  Notre  Dame.  His  great  success  at  the  court  of  France 
created  a  dissension  between  himself  and  Primaticcio,  who  was  jealous 
of  the  favour  shown  to  him  by  the  King ;  and  this  hatred  continued  un- 
abated until  the  death  of  Rosso,  who  poisoned  himself  in  the  year  1541, 
from  remorse  at  the  torments  endured  by  his  friend  Pelligrino,  whom 
he  had  unjustly  accused  of  theft.  Great  skill  in  the  management  of  his 
lights,  grandeur  of  conception,  fertility  of  imagination,  and  remarkable 
richness  of  colouring,  are  the  characteristics  of  his  style. 


28  Reign  of 

to  which  her  manufactories  have  since  been  indebted 
for  their  superiority. 

Nor  was  it  only  to  foreigners  that  Francis  proved 
himself  a  munificent  patron;  for,  excited  by  the  en- 
couragement suddenly  held  out  throughout  Europe 
to  every  species  of  science  and  scholarship,  and 
anxious  to  secure  the  success  of  his  new  foundation  by 
placing  it  under  the  supervision  of  the  most  learned 
men  of  the  time,  he  spared  no  pains  in  collecting  about 
him,  and  in  conciliating  the  friendship  of,  every  indi- 
vidual in  France  who  had  by  his  erudition  rendered 
himself  worthy  of  such  a  distinction. 

Francis  was  not,  however,  singular  in  his  laudable 
ambition,  for  all  Europe,  wearied  of  war,  had  simul- 
taneously adopted  the  same  taste.  In  Italy,  even  the 
political  convulsions  to  which  the  country  had  been 
subjected,  had  failed  to  quench  the  thirst  for  knowl- 
edge ;  and  thus  her  scholars,  her  artists,  her  sculptors, 
and  her  architects  were  the  most  celebrated  in  the 
world,  and  were  competent  to  teach  where  others  were 
only  beginning  to  learn.  In  Florence  especially,  every 
species  of  art  and  every  branch  of  literature  had  at- 
tained to  marvellous  perfection ;  and  now,  when  di- 
plomacy and  warfare  had  ceased  to  engross  the  minds 
of  the  European  sovereigns,  each  became  desirous  to 
render  his  court  celebrated  by  the  presence  of  the 
learned.  England,  France,  and  Germany,  at  length 
aware  of  the  importance  of  intellectual  cultivation, 
vied  with  each  other  in  their  efforts  to  accomplish  this 
desirable  end ;  and  thus  the  painter's  easel,  the  scholar's 
desk,  and  the  sculptor's  studio  were  soon  established 
within  the  walls  of  palaces,  hitherto  inaccessible  to 
such  occupants. 


Francis  I  29 

Fortunately  for  Francis,  the  Italian  refugees  with 
few  exceptions  turned  towards  France,  of  which  they 
had  so  long  been  the  allies ;  while  even  in  his  own  king- 
dom he  possessed  many  men  of  eminence,  to  whom  he 
had  shown  favour  from  the  very  commencement  of 
his  reign.  Foremost  among  these  were  the  three 
noble  brothers,  Du  Bellay,*  Bude,  Guillaume  Petit, 
his  confessor.  Cope,  his  physician,  Duchatel,  Pillicier, 
Danes,  De  Selve,  and  many  other  men  of  mark,  who 
soon  obtained  for  him  the  reputation  which  he  coveted. 

It  was  principally  to  encourage  the  study  of  the 
classics  that  Francis  had  conceived  the  idea  of  the 
royal  college,  of  which  it  may  be  remembered  that  he 
had  offered  the  presidency  to  Erasmus  so  early  as  the 
year  15 17;  but,  notwithstanding  his  great  anxiety  to 
cultivate  this  essential  branch  of  knowledge,  he  had 
contented  himself  with  selecting  the  site  of  the  build- 
ing, which  was  to  be  sufficiently  capacious  to  accommo- 
date six  hundred  students,  and  then  suffered  himself 
to  be  dissuaded  by  the  remonstrances  of  the  Chancellor 
Duprat,  who  being  a  man  totally  without  erudition, 
and  consequently  unable  to  appreciate  its  value,  repre- 
sented to  him  the  impolicy  of  diverting  the  public 
moneys  from  their  legitimate  uses  in  order  to  foster  a 
love  of  enlightenment  which  might  tend  to  interfere 
with  higher  objects. 

It  is  probable  that  this  narrow-sighted  view  of  the 

•  The  family  of  Du  Bellay,  which  produced  alike  brave  soldiers  and 
able  diplomatists,  were  natives  of  Anjou.  The  most  famous  of  its  mem- 
bers were  the  three  brothers,  Guillaume  Du  Bellay,  one  of  the  generals 
of  Francis  I.  who  died  in  1565;  Jean  Du  Bellay,  who  died  in  1560;  and 
Martin  Du  Bellay,  who  at  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1559,  left  behind 
him  his  celebrated  Memoirs.  A  relative  of  these  distinguished  men, 
Joachim  Du  Bellay,  acquired  great  reputation  as  a  poet. 


30  Reign  of 

case  was  not  without  its  effect  upon  the  mind  of  the 
King;  for  even  in  1530,  the  period  upon  which  we  are 
now  engaged,  Francis,  after  having  elected  the  several 
professors,  left  them  dependent  upon  the  University, 
without  either  a  hall  of  study,  a  corporation,  or  even 
any  security  for  the  payment  of  their  salaries ;  nor  was 
the  erection  of  the  edifice  even  commenced  until  eight 
years  after  his  death. 

That  the  insinuation  of  the  crafty  Duprat  had  not 
failed  in  its  effect  is  moreover  made  apparent  by  the 
sudden  distaste  evinced  by  the  King  to  his  darling 
project,  so  soon  as  he  discovered  that  as  the  study  of 
the  ancient  languages  obtained  among  the  learned,  so 
did  the  tenets  of  reform  gain  ground,  and  the  exaspera- 
tion of  the  monks  become  uncontrollable. 

For  a  time,  however,  he  continued  to  exhibit  the 
same  friendship  for  the  studious  and  the  scientific  as 
ever;  and  refused  to  abandon  their  interests  at  the 
instigation  of  the  sensual  and  indolent  communities 
who  suddenly  beheld  all  their  darling  prejudices 
threatened,  and  all  their  ignorance  revealed,  by  the 
new  flood  of  light  which  was  pouring  in  upon  them ; 
and  whose  only  resource  was  to  raise  the  cry  of  heresy, 
and  to  fulminate  alike  against  the  reformed  scholars 
and  their  protectors  all  the  thunders  of  the  Church. 

The  truth,  nevertheless,  made  way;  and  the  same 
opinions  which  only  twelve  years  before  had  been 
promulgated  in  Germany,  spread  themselves  steadily 
over  France,  and  became  widely  diffused  among  that 
portion  of  the  people,  perhaps  of  all  others  the  best 
calculated  to  insure  their  ultimate  triumph.  We  allude 
to  the  lower  classes— not  only  of  the  cities,  where  the 


Francis  I  31 

mere  desire  to  free  themselves  from  a  priestly  thral- 
dom of  which  they  had  become  weary,  doubtlessly 
urged  many  to  espouse  the  new  doctrines — but  also  of 
the  villages ;  for  the  purity,  the  peace,  and  the  simplic- 
ity of  the  reformed  tenets  spoke  to  the  hearts  and  the 
convictions  of  those  whose  reason  had  been  bewildered, 
and  whose  faith  had  been  enfeebled,  by  the  mysterious 
superstitions  of  their  fathers.  And  while  the  good 
work  was  thus  progressing  among  the  humble  and  the 
unlearned,  it  made  itself  felt  also  among  the  more  in- 
telligent of  the  citizens,  who  could  not  remain  blind 
to  the  vices  and  excesses  of  a  depraved  and  grasping 
priesthood,  whose  habits  of  life,  and  whose  modes  of 
teaching,  were  alike  repugnant  to  good  sense  and  good 
feeling. 

No  wonder,  then,  that  when  the  learned  began  to 
examine  and  to  compare  the  two  systems,  a  general 
alarm  pervaded  the  whole  body  of  the  Romish 
Church ;  for  although  many  of  them  still  remained 
within  the  pale  of  their  original  religion,  yet  all,  with- 
out exception,  expressed  an  equal  disgust  at  the  ig- 
norance and  imposture  of  the  monks.  Among  the 
number  of  those  who  still  nominally  adhered  to  their 
ancient  faith,  while  they  were,  in  point  of  fact,  rapidly 
undermining  its  foundations,  may  be  mentioned  the 
celebrated  Rabelais  ;*  who,  after  having  abandoned  a 
monastic  life  for  the  profession  of  medicine,  became 

•  Francois  Rabelais  was  born  at  Chinon  in  1483.  Originally  a  monk 
of  the  order  of  the  Cordeliers,  he  subsequently  became  a  Benedictine; 
and  then,  weary  of  the  cowl,  established  himself  as  a  physician;  in  which 
capacity  he  accompanied  the  embassy  of  the  Cardinal  Du  Bellay  to 
Rome.  During  his  sojourn  in  that  city,  he  obtained,  through  the  inter- 
cession of  the  Cardinal,  an  absolution  from  the  Pope  for  the  rupture  of 
his  vows;  and  it  was  to  the  same  generous  patron  he  was  indebted  for 
the  clerical  preferment  which  he  afterwards  enjoyed. 


32  Reign  of 

the  physician  of  the  Cardinal  du  Bellay  during  his 
sojourn  at  Rome  as  the  ambassador  of  Francis ;  and 
published  in  the  year  1533  his  novel  of  "  Pantagruel," 
and  in  1535  that  of  "  Gargantua,"  in  both  of  which  he 
attacked  with  unequalled  audacity  alike  the  religion 
that  he  professed  and  the  civil  authority  to  which  he 
was  subservient.  But  while  he  thus  overwhelmed, 
with  a  pungency  of  ridicule  at  once  impious  and  in- 
decent, the  abuses  to  which  no  one  was  more  keenly 
alive  than  himself,  he  was  nevertheless  too  worldly- 
wise  to  withdraw  from  beyond  the  pale  of  a  church 
which  he  was  enabled  to  render  subservient  to  his  in- 
terests; and  despite  all  his  offences  against  religion 
and  morality,  he  ultimately  died  prebendary  of  Saint 
Maur-des-Fosses,  and  curate  of  Meudon. 

In  like  manner  Clement  Marot,  the  poet,  although 
he  rejected  for  a  time  the  Romish  tenets,  did  not  hesi- 
tate on  two  distinct  occasions  to  return  to  them ;  not, 
as  in  the  case  of  Rabelais,  from  motives  of  self-interest, 
but  from  causes  still  more  degrading ;  for  even  while, 
in  his  first  enthusiasm  for  the  reformed  faith,  he  aban- 
doned the  composition  of  worldly  poetry  in  order  to 
translate  the  Psalms,  he  could  not,  or  sought  not  to 
control  the  licentiousness  of  his  nature ;  and  finding 
the  restraints  imposed  by  his  adopted  creed  alike  in- 
convenient and  embarrassing,  unblushingly  recurred 
to  his  old  professions  in  order  to  pursue  the  libertine 
habits  to  which  he  was  addicted.  Erasmus,  although 
less  reprehensible  in  his  motives,  was  equally  incon- 
sistent in  his  conduct ;  for  while  he  pursued  the  Romish 
clergy  with  unsparing  sarcasm,  he  refused  to  abandon 
the  observances  of  their  church. 


Francis  I  33 

Many  there  were,  however,  who  having  conscien- 
tiously and  sincerely  attached  themselves  to  Prot- 
estantism, were  true  even  to  the  death,  and  sealed 
their  convictions  by  enduring  with  unflinching  and 
heroic  firmness  the  agonies  of  martyrdom. 

Among  those  observances  of  the  Romish  Church 
against  which  the  people  had  first  openly  revolted  was 
that  of  image-worship;  and  so  early  as  the  year  1525, 
a  wool-comber,  named  Jean  le  Clerc,  a  native  of 
Meaux,  had  carried  his  zeal  so  far  as  to  destroy  sev- 
eral figures  of  saints ;  for  which  sacrilegious  oflfence 
he  was  publicly  whipped,  branded  with  a  hot  iron,  and 
subsequently  burned  at  the  stake.  This  event,  how- 
ever, created  little  sensation  beyond  the  city  in  which 
it  occurred;  nor  was  it  until  in  1528  a  discovery  was 
made  in  the  capital  than  an  effigy  of  the  Virgin  in  the 
Rue  des  Rosiers  had  been  torn  from  its  niche,  defaced, 
and  dragged  through  the  mud  of  the  street,  that 
Francis  abandoned  the  cause  of  the  Reformers. 

But  even  then  it  was  rather  from  policy,  than  from 
any  religious  scruple,  that  he  did  so.  The  state  of 
Paris  had  already  been,  as  we  have  shown,  sufficiently 
alarming;  and  this  new  and  open  violation  of  the  law 
threatened  an  increase  of  the  evil.  Jealous  of  his  au- 
thority, the  King  began  to  regard  the  Lutherans  with 
a  suspicious  eye ;  and  while  he  had  tranquilly  permitted 
their  attacks  upon  the  Church,  he  at  once  resented 
their  presumed  defiance  of  himself.  Moreover,  Fran- 
cis, although  destitute  of  religion,  was  as  superstitious 
as  the  most  ignorant  of  his  subjects.  Like  them  he 
had  witnessed  rather  with  satisfaction  than  annoyance 
the  persecutions  to  which  the  clergy  had  been  sub- 
VOL.  III.— 3 


34  Reign  of 

jected  by  their  new  opponents,  but,  also  like  them,  he 
held  in  reverence  the  ancient  symbols  of  the  faith 
which  he  professed;  and  thus,  in  order  at  once  to 
appease  the  murmurs  of  the  populace,  and  to  tran- 
quillize his  own  misgivings,  he  caused  a  statue  of  silver 
of  the  same  dimensions  as  that  which  had  been  de- 
stroyed to  be  erected  in  the  same  spot,  and  himself 
walked  in  procession,  attended  by  his  whole  court,  to 
witness  the  ceremony  of  its  installation. 

His  next  care  was  to  discover  the  authors  of  the 
outrage ;  but  failing  in  this  attempt,  he  turned  the 
whole  tide  of  his  wrath  upon  the  Lutherans  as  a  body, 
declaring  that  the  profanation  which  had  been  com- 
mitted must  have  originated  with  them ;  and  the  first 
evidence  which  he  gave  of  his  determination  to  sacri- 
fice every  other  consideration  to  that  of  maintaining 
his  personal  authority,  was  afforded  by  the  re-arrest 
of  Louis  de  Berguin,*  who  had  some  time  previously 
been  denounced  to  the  Sorbonne  by  their  syndic,  and 
imprisoned  in  the  dungeons  of  the  college ;  whence  he 
had  been  liberated  by  the  express  order  of  the  King, 
and  restored  to  liberty. 

Now,  however,  although  no  further  accusation  had 
been  brought  against  him,  the  unhappy  student  was 
once  more  consigned  to  a  prison,  and  put  upon  his 
trial  before  twelve  commissaries  of  the  Parliament, 
who,  anxious  to  conciliate  at  once  the  Church  and  the 


*  Louis  de  Berguin  was  a  gentleman  of  Artois,  and  the  friend  of  Eras- 
mus. Of  eminent  talents,  and  zealous  for  the  progress  of  learning,  he 
wrote  vehemently  and  powerfully  against  the  cupidity,  ignorance,  and 
intolerance  of  the  monastic  communities,  and  thus  drew  upon  himself 
the  vengeance  of  the  Romish  Church.  He  was  burnt  at  the  stake  in  his 
fortieth  year,  in  1529. 


Francis  I  35 

sovereign,  after  a  hurried  investigation  condemned 
him  to  witness  the  public  burning  of  all  his  writings 
in  the  Place  de  Greve ;  to  make  the  amende  honorable, 
to  abjure  his  heretical  opinions  on  the  same  spot,  and 
afterwards  to  have  his  tongue  pierced  by  a  hot  iron, 
and  to  suffer  perpetual  imprisonment.  Without  com- 
ment upon  the  remainder  of  his  sentence,  Berguin 
positively  refused  to  utter  the  abjuration,  and  forth- 
with appealed  both  to  the  King  and  the  Pope ;  upon 
which  the  commissaries,  by  an  abuse  of  power  alike 
unprecedented  and  arbitrary,  denounced  his  appeal  as 
a  new  offence,  and  revoking  their  former  award,  con- 
demned him  to  be  burnt  alive ;  an  iniquitous  sentence 
which  was  actually  carried  into  effect  on  the  22d  of 
April,  1529,  without  any  effort  on  the  part  of  Francis 
to  save  the  victim  from  so  cruel  and  unmerited  a  fate. 
The  death  of  Berguin  was  succeeded  by  a  general 
persecution  of  the  Reformists.  At  Toulouse  the  tri- 
bunal of  the  Inquisition  condemned  no  less  than  thirty- 
two  Lutherans  to  punishments  of  different  degrees  of 
severity ;  including  imprisonment  for  life,  confiscation 
of  property,  and  death  at  the  stake.  At  Lyons  they 
were  treated  with  equal  harshness;  while  at  Bourges 
they  were  judged  and  sentenced  with  similar  severity, 
and  even  confounded  with  sorcerers  and  magicians  in 
order  to  excite  against  them  the  indignation  and  hatred 
of  the  populace ;  and  at  the  same  time  the  Chancellor 
convened  a  council  in  the  capital,  which  included  all 
the  Bishops  of  the  diocese  of  Sens,  in  which  the  doc- 
trines of  Luther  were  not  only  condemned,  but  all  the 
Princes  of  Christendom  were  exhorted  to  assist  in  the 
extermination  of  his  disciples. 


36  Reign  of 

Neither  genius  nor  scholarship  longer  availed  to 
save  the  suspected ;  and  Francis,  who  had  so  recently 
arrogated  to  himself  the  proud  title  of  Protector  of 
Letters,  looked  coldly  on  while  some  of  the  noblest 
spirits  and  brightest  intellects  of  his  kingdom  were 
quenched  in  the  unholy  flames  of  bigotry  and  super- 
stition. 

In  vain  had  Marguerite  of  Navarre  pleaded  for 
mercy ;  in  vain  had  she  represented  the  irreparable 
injury  which  the  King  was  inflicting,  not  only  upon 
Europe  at  large  by  thus  impeding  the  growth  of 
knowledge,  but  even  upon  his  own  fame,  by  afford- 
ing his  sanction  to  enormities  so  monstrous ;  her  warn- 
ing whispers  were  silenced  by  the  sterner  voice  of 
Louise  de  Savoie;  who,  having  by  a  transition  rapid 
and  easy  at  that  period  abandoned  her  former  licen- 
tious pursuits  for  a  violent  and  ostentatious  display  of 
religious  fervour,  and  resolved  to  second  the  selfish 
designs  of  her  favourite  and  confidant,  Duprat,  (who 
on  his  side  was  eager  to  conciliate  the  clergy,  and  to 
purchase  oblivion  for  the  excesses  of  the  past,)  urged 
him  on  to  acts  of  rigour  and  injustice  as  impolitic  as 
they  were  cruel. 

Such  was  the  real  patronage  afforded  by  Francis  I. 
to  men  of  letters :  alternately  his  idols  and  his  victims, 
he  suffered  them  to  minister  to  his  vanity,  to  celebrate 
his  greatness,  to  record  his  victories,  and  to  throw  a 
halo  of  refinement  and  civilization  over  his  court ; 
while  they  were  not  only  forbidden  to  worship  the 
Eternal  and  the  True  according  to  the  dictates  of  their 
own  hearts,  but  were  even  subjected  to  the  most 
odious  persecution,  and  to  the  most  painful  and  ig- 


Francis  I  37 

nominious  death,  for  presuming  to  eschew  bigotry 
and  error,  and  to  work  out  the  salvation  of  their  own 
souls. 

In  the  darker  ages  King  Robert  had  indeed  pun- 
ished religious  schism  by  the  stake,  and  Saint  Louis 
had  followed  the  fearful  example  of  his  predecessor; 
but  since  the  death  of  the  latter  monarch,  the  law, 
although  still  unannulled,  had  never  been  put  into 
force,  and  was  forgotten  when  it  was  thus  revived  by 
Francis  I.  Even  his  panegyrist  Brantome  is  com- 
pelled to  admit  that  "  it  was  he  who  first  led  the  way 
to  the  burning  of  heretics."  A  melancholy  fact  to 
record  against  a  Christian  King;  and  one,  moreover, 
who  affected  an  earnest  zeal  to  promote  civilization 
and  general  enlightenment. 

Meanwhile  the  tranquillity  of  Europe  was  far  from 
being  so  well  assured  as  it  appeared ;  and  although  the 
late  lingering  and  costly  wars  had  exhausted  the  re- 
sources of  both  Charles  V.  and  Francis,  there  were 
many  reasons  which  co-operated  against  a  lengthened 
peace.  To  say  nothing  of  the  mutual  jealousy  that 
existed  between  the  two  monarchs,  each  had  legiti- 
mate causes  for  discontent  which  neither  was  likely 
to  overlook  ;  nor  were  there  wanting  bold  and  advent- 
urous spirits  about  the  persons  of  both  sovereigns, 
who  sought  to  fan  the  smouldering  embers  of  their 
old  hatred  into  a  new  and  fiercer  flame. 

To  the  Emperor  it  was  represented  that  Francis, 
whose»pride  he  had  humbled,  and  whose  vanity  he  had 
wounded,  would  never  forgive  the  humiliations  en- 
tailed upon  him  by  the  treaty  of  Cambray ;  but  would 
eagerly  seize  the  first  opportunity  to  recover  by  vio- 


38  Reign  of 

lence  the  territories  of  which  he  had  been  deprived ; 
and  that  should  he  succeed  in  once  more  rendering 
himself  master  of  the  Milanese,  he  would  not  fail  to 
extend  his  conquests  to  Naples  and  Sicily.  In  order 
to  avert  this  calamity,  it  was  suggested  by  the  coun- 
sellors of  Charles  that  he  should  invest  Francisco 
Sforza  with  the  duchy  of  Milan,  by  which  measure  he 
would  not  only  secure  to  himself  a  large  amount  of 
money,  but  would  also  conciliate  the  other  Italian 
states,  who  would  necessarily  welcome  this  restoration 
as  a  guarantee  against  the  invasion  of  a  monarch  of 
whom  past  experience  had  rendered  them  suspicious, 
and  even  against  the  authority  of  the  Emperor  him- 
self, whose  power  was  too  formidable  and  overwhelm- 
ing to  admit  of  their  feeling  secure  under  his  rule; 
while  by  inducing  the  other  Princes  of  Italy  to  enter 
into  a  league  with  Sforza,  of  whom  they  could  enter- 
tain no  jealousy,  he  would  become  possessed  of  allies 
all  the  more  valuable  that  they  were  thus  divorced 
from  the  cause  of  France. 

Many  other  similar  arguments  were  adduced  which 
were  not  without  their  influence  upon  the  mind  of 
Charles  V.,  who  had  already  been  urged  to  reinstate 
Sforza  in  the  sovereignty  of  the  duchy  alike  by  the 
Pope  and  the  Venetian  Senate.  Shortly  after  the 
peace  he  had  visited  Italy  with  great  pomp,  and  ef- 
fected his  reconciliation  with  the  Pontiff,  towards 
whom  he  had  evinced  a  respect  and  regard  which  were 
wholly  incompatible  with  his  former  bearing ;  and  who 
met  him  in  the  same  spirit,  being  anxious  to  secure  the 
support  of  so  powerful  an  ally  in  his  meditated  ven- 
geance upon  the  Florentines,  by  whom  the  Medici, 


Francis  I  39 

his  relatives,  and  all  their  adherents  had  been  driven 
from  their  territories. 

The  re-establishment  of  his  family  was  accordingly 
one  of  the  principal  articles  of  the  treaty  between  the 
two  potentates  insisted  upon  by  the  Pope.  Alessandro 
de'  Medici  was  to  be  reinstated  in  the  government  of 
Florence ;  Ravenna,  Modena,  and  Reggio  were  to  be 
restored  to  the  Holy  See ;  and  the  Emperor  was 
pledged  not  only  to  assist  Clement  against  the  Duke 
of  Ferrara,  but  also  to  aid  him  in  restoring  the  power 
and  splendour  of  the  Church,  which  had  been  greatly 
weakened  and  deteriorated  by  the  events  of  the  late 
war;  as  well  as  in  checking  the  progress  of  the 
Reformation. 

The  recompense  of  these  concessions  was  to  be  the 
crown  of  empire  which  had  been  refused  to  Charles 
by  his  predecessor ;  and  the  treaty  was  no  sooner  con- 
cluded than  his  coronation  took  place  with  great 
splendour  (on  the  226.  of  February,  1530),  in  the 
Church  of  San  Petronio  at  Bologna.  After  the  cere- 
mony, the  Emperor  proceeded  with  the  same  magnifi- 
cence to  Barcelona,  where  he  embarked  for  Genoa ; 
and  in  the  latter  city  he  received  the  congratulations 
of  the  Papal  legates,  and  the  representatives  of  the  sev- 
eral Italian  princes.  He  then  pursued  his  way  to 
Placenza,  where  he  gave  audience  to  Francisco  Sforza, 
and  fulfilled  his  promise  to  the  Pontiff  by  insuring  to 
the  Duke  the  restoration  of  his  duchy,  on  condition 
that  he  should  pay  the  sum  of  nine  hundred  thousand 
ducats  as  compensation-money,  and  leave  the  for- 
tresses of  Milan  and  Cremona  in  the  hands  of  the 
imperial  generals  until  the  whole  of  the  debt  should 


40  Reign  of 

be  discharged.  In  order  to  secure  the  fidelity  of  his 
new  vassal,  Charles  moreover  promised  him  the  hand 
of  his  own  niece,  the  daughter  of  the  King  of  Den- 
mark, who  had  been  deprived  of  his  kingdom ;  and  a 
few  months  subsequently  the  marriage  was  solemn- 
ized. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Francis  had  tangible  cause 
for  displeasure.  The  Emperor  had  entered  into  two 
several  treaties,  both  of  which  seriously  affected  the 
interests  of  France.  He  had  secured  the  alliance  of 
the  Pope,  the  Venetian  states,  the  Italian  provinces, 
and,  above  all,  the  Milanese;  and  he  had  also, 
through  his  agents,  tampered  with  the  Swiss  and  the 
Grisons,  and  weakened  their  allegiance  to  the  French 
crown. 

But  of  all  these  injuries,  that  which  rankled  the  most 
deeply  in  the  heart  of  Francis  was  the  cession  of  Milan 
to  Francisco  Sforza,  a  man  without  honour  or  probity, 
and  of  mean  extraction  ;  while  he  was  himself  the  hus- 
band of  the  Emperor's  sister,  the  monarch  of  a  power- 
ful nation,  and,  as  Charles  was  well  aware,  coveted 
the  possession  of  that  duchy,  which  he  considered  as 
a  portion  of  his  own  territories.  Had  the  Emperor 
retained  the  Milanese  under  his  own  authority,  the 
French  King  could  only  have  complained  of  his  in- 
justice in  thus  withholding  from  his  children  their 
legitimate  inheritance ;  but  in  thus  transferring  its 
sovereignty  to  a  petty  Italian  Prince,  he  had  subjected 
Francis  to  the  greatest  indignity  which  it  was  in  his 
power  to  inflict ;  and  which  wounded  him  the  more 
deeply  that  he  had  been  totally  unprepared  for  so, 
wanton  and  gratuitous  an  insult. 


Francis  I  4^ 

Nor  was  this  the  only  evidence  afforded  by  Charles 
of  the  indifference  with  which  he  regarded  the  claims 
of  the  French  crown  ;  for  he  had,  in  like  manner,  ceded 
the  countyship  of  Ast  to  the  Duke  of  Savoy,  although 
aware  that  it  was  the  ancient  patrimony  of  the  house 
of  Orleans ;  while  in  addition  to  these  glaring  demon- 
strations of  his  contempt  for  the  weakened  power  of 
his  late  prisoner,  he  had  failed  to  redeem  the  pledge 
that  he  had  given  for  the  restoration  of  several  of  the 
attendants  of  the  young  Princes  during  their  detention 
at  Madrid,  whom  he  had  sent  to  the  galleys,  and  who 
still  remained  prisoners. 

Yet,  despite  all  these  provocations,  Francis  was 
anxious  to  avoid  a  renewal  of  hostilities,  and  once 
more  sought  to  avert  aggression  by  diplomacy ;  an 
attempt  in  which  he  was  encouraged  both  by  Louise 
de  Savoie,  whose  health  at  this  period  began  to  fail, 
and  by  the  Queen,  who  was  overwhelmed  with  terror 
at  the  prospect  of  a  war  between  her  husband  and  her 
brother.  It  was  consequently  arranged  that  Eleonora 
should  request  the  presence  of  Courbaron,  a  gentle- 
man of  the  Emperor's  court,  in  France,  ostensibly  to 
conclude  a  commercial  treaty  between  the  French  and 
the  Genoese ;  but  actually,  through  her  influence,  to 
induce  a  meeting  between  the  two  sovereigns. 

After  repeated  interviews  Courbaron  accepted  the 
mission,  and  the  Emperor  affected  to  accede  to  the 
soHcitations  of  his  sister;  but  it  soon  became  evident 
that  he  had  no  intention  of  affording  to  Francis  the 
advantage  of  a  personal  interview ;  a  fact  of  which  the 
French  King  felt  so  well  assured  that  he  availed  him- 
self of  the  death  of  his  mother,  which  occurred  during 


42  Reign  of 

the  progress  of  the  negotiations,  to  suggest  the  post- 
ponement of  the  meeting. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1531  the  health  of  Madame 
d'Angouleme  had  become  extremely  precarious,  and 
some  cases  of  plague  having  occurred  during  the  sum- 
mer at  Fontainebleau,  where  she  was  then  residing,  she 
determined  to  proceed  to  Romorantin;  but  on  her 
arrival  at  the  village  of  Gretz  in  Gratinois,  her  illness 
increased  so  alarmingly  that  she  was  compelled  to 
abandon  all  idea  of  her  projected  journey,  and  to  sum- 
mon her  physicians.  A  short  time  before  her  death 
she  was  startled  by  an  extraordinary  light  in  her  cham- 
ber, and  reprimanded  her  attendants  for  their  careless- 
ness in  making  so  large  a  fire ;  when  they  assured  her 
that  what  she  saw  was  merely  the  reflection  of  the 
moon  through  the  curtained  window.  Still  uncon- 
vinced, she  desired  that  the  hangings  might  be  drawn 
aside,  and  on  raising  herself  upon  her  bed  to  ascertain 
the  truth,  she  discovered  that  the  glare  by  which  she 
had  been  inconvenienced  proceeded  from  a  comet 
which  was  at  that  moment  traversing  the  heavens. 
As  she  gazed  wildly  upon  the  brilliant  meteor,  she  fell 
back  despairingly  upon  her  pillow,  declaring  that  it 
was  the  harbinger  of  her  death,  and  desiring  that  her 
confessor  might  be  immediately  introduced.  In  vain 
did  her  physicians  expostulate,  assuring  her  that  the 
virulence  of  her  disease  had  abated,  and  that  they  had 
confidence  in  her  recovery ;  they  could  not  shake  her 
conviction,  or  overcome  the  superstition  by  which 
she  was  prostrated.  The  confessor  accordingly  ap- 
proached her  bed,  and  administered  to  her  the  last 
sacraments  of  the  Church;  a  few  hours  of  calm  sue- 


Francis  I  43 

cceded,  and  then,  towards  evening  on  the  29th  of  Sep- 
tember, she  expired,  in  her  fifty-fourth  year. 

The  embalmed  body  was  conveyed  to  St.  Denis, 
where  it  was  laid  in  a  superb  mausoleum  which  the 
King  had  caused  to  be  constructed ;  the  heart  and  the 
entrails  were  carried  to  Notre  Dame,  and  deposited 
imder  a  plate  of  metal ;  and  all  that  remained  of  Louise 
de  Savoie,  so  long  the  sovereign  of  France  in  all  save 
the  mere  name,  were  the  treasures  which  she  had 
accumulated  during  her  career  of  power.  But  what 
a  fearful  tale  did  they  tell  of  extortion,  injustice,  and 
selfishness!  The  Milanese  had  been  lost  for  want  of 
supplies ;  the  energies  of  the  whole  army  paralysed ; 
the  blood  of  thousands  sacrificed ;  the  dignity  of  her 
son  insulted ;  and  the  nation  prostrated  by  famine ; 
and  her  private  chest  was  found  to  contain  the  enor- 
mous sum  of  fifteen  hundred  thousand  golden  crowns ! 
The  captivity  of  Francis  had  been  her  work,  but  she 
had  forgotten  while  gloating  over  her  ill-gotten  hoards 
that  she  was  a  mother.  The  victims  of  the  sword  and 
the  pestilence  had  alike  been  the  offerings  which  she 
had  immolated  at  the  altar  of  her  sordid  deity ;  avarice 
and  hatred  had  enabled  her  to  do  the  office  of  the 
destroying  angel,  and  she  had  heaped  up  curses  where 
she  might  have  garnered  blessings. 

At  the  death  of  his  mother  Francis  found  himself 
more  wealthy  than  he  had  ever  been  since  his  accession 
to  the  throne;  and  one  of  the  first  uses  to  which  he 
applied  a  portion  of  his  unexpected  inheritance,  was 
to  liberate  the  territories  of  the  Low  Countries,  which 
had  been  mortgaged  to  the  Emperor  in  part  payment 
of  his  ransom. 


44  Francis  I 

In  the  brief  period  which  had  elapsed  since  the  con- 
clusion of  the  treaty  of  Cambray,  Louise  de  Savoie 
had  already  been  preceded  to  the  tomb  by  Marguerite 
d'Autriche,  the  Governante  of  Flanders,  who  died  at 
Malines  on  the  ist  of  December  in  the  previous  year, 
only  fifteen  months  after  the  completion  of  that  un- 
happy and  ill-omened  negotiation. 

The  daughter  of  Maximilian  left  no  treasure  with 
which  to  enrich  her  heirs,  but  tears  were  wept  above 
her  bier  that  gold  could  not  have  bought;  and  her 
memory  was  embalmed  in  the  hearts  of  those  to  whom 
she  had  been  alike  a  firm  friend  and  an  indulgent 
protectress. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Francis  Endeavours  to  Annex  the  Duchy  of  Brittany  to  the 
French  Crown — The  Bretons  Resist  His  Claim — Louis  des 
Desserts  Undertakes  to  Secure  Their  Consent — The  States 
of  Brittany  are  Assembled  at  Vannes — Francis  Proceeds  to 
Chateaubriand — Reconciliation  of  the  Count  and  Countess 
— Francis  Presents  Two  Estates  to  His  Old  Favourite — 
The  Dauphin  is  Proclaimed  Duke  of  Brittany — Francis 
Erects  New  Palaces — The  Chateau  of  Madrid — The  Queen 
Dowager  of  Hungary  is  Appointed  Governante  of  the  Low 
Countries — Henry  VHL  and  Francis  L  Enter  into  a  De- 
fensive Alliance — Qement  VH.  Refuses  to  Sanction  the 
Divorce  of  Henry  VHL  and  Katherine  of  Aragon — Un- 
popularity of  Henry  VHL — Diet  of  Spires — Ferdinand  of 
Austria  is  Elected  King  of  the  Romans — Contempt  Evinced 
by  Charles  V.  towards  the  German  Protestants — The  League 
of  Smalkalden — The  Protestant  Princes  Apply  to  France 
and  England  for  Support — Courteous  Reply  of  Francis — 
The  King  of  Hungary  Sends  Ambassadors  to  the  French 
Court — Policy  of  Francis — The  French  Ambassadors  to  Eng- 
land Negotiate  a  Meeting  between  the  Two  Monarchs — 
The  Royal  Interview — A  Treaty  is  Signed  by  which  both 
Sovereigns  Bind  Themselves  to  a  Crusade  against  the  Turks 
— Indignation  of  Henry  VIII.  against  the  Pope — Caution  of 
the  French  King — Jealousy  of  Charles  V. — Francis  is  Sum- 
moned by  the  Emperor  to  Despatch  an  Army  against  Solyman 
— He  Refuses — Charles  V.  Compels  the  Turks  to  Retreat — 
Francis  Deceives  Henry  VIII. — Francis  Offers  the  Hand  of 
the   Due   d'Orleans   to   Catherine   de'    Medici — Incredulity 

45 


46  Reign  of 

of  the  Pope — He  Consults  Charles  V. — The  Emperor  and  the 
Pope  Meet  at  Bologna — Alarm  of  Francis — Two  French 
Bishops  are  Despatched  to  Threaten  Clement  VII. — Henry 
VIII.  Returns  to  England. 

THE  persecution  of  the  Reformists  and  the  negotia- 
tion with  the  Emperor  were  not,  however,  the 
only  subjects  by  which  the  mind  of  Francis  was  ab- 
sorbed during  the  year  1532.  One  of  the  darhng 
projects  both  of  himself  and  his  mother  had  for  several 
years  past  been  the  annexation  of  the  duchy  of  Brit- 
tany to  the  throne  of  France ;  to  which  they  adhered 
still  more  stringently  from  the  fact  that  Queen  Claude 
had,  by  her  will,  devised  it  to  her  elder  son,  the  Dau- 
phin, with  the  reservation  of  its  revenues  to  the  King 
her  husband  during  his  life.  The  legality  of  this  will 
was  nevertheless  disputed  by  the  Bretons,  who  affirmed 
that  she  had  no  right  to  make  such  a  disposition,  in- 
asmuch as  a  clause  in  the  marriage-contract  of  Anne 
de  Bretagne  distinctly  set  forth  that  it  was  to  become 
the  inheritance  of  the  younger,  instead  of  the  elder  of 
her  children ;  and,  jealous  of  their  privileges,  they  de- 
manded the  maintenance  of  their  independence,  re- 
fusing to  allow  the  King  to  govern  them  in  any  other 
capacity  than  that  of  their  Duke,  and  in  conformity 
with  their  own  constitution ;  reserving  to  themselves, 
moreover,  the  right,  should  an  opportunity  present 
itself,  of  separating  the  duchy  from  the  crown,  by  either 
causing  it  to  devolve  upon  the  last-born  of  the  Princes, 
or  of  maintaining  the  claims  of  the  female  line. 

Francis,  who  foresaw  that  the  attitude  thus  assumed 
by  the  Bretons  might  hereafter  cause  the  province  to 
become  a  fruitful  subject  of  contention,  was  anxious 


Francis  I  47 

to  secure  its  tranquil  possession  ;  and  to  this  end  many 
suggestions  had  been  made,  the  whole  of  which  were 
successively  abandoned,  from  a  dread  of  awakening 
their  alarm.  But  still,  even  although  the  advice  and 
influence  of  Louise  de  Savoie  were  now  lost  to  them, 
neither  the  King  nor  his  Minister  was  willing  to  aban- 
don so  essential  a  measure ;  and  at  length  the  wily 
Duprat  succeeded  in  securing  the  confidence  of  Louis 
des  Desserts,  the  President  of  the  Breton  Parliament, 
who  possessed  immense  influence  over  the  minds  of 
his  compatriots;  and  who,  dazzled  by  the  bribes  and 
promises  of  the  Chancellor,  consented  to  exert  all  his 
energies  to  induce  the  result  at  which  he  aimed. 

Duprat  had  little  difficulty  in  convincing  the  King 
of  the  absolute  necessity  of  completing  the  arrange- 
ment during  the  minority  of  his  sons ;  who,  then  aged 
respectively  only  thirteen  and  fourteen  years,  would 
not  venture  to  interfere  with  any  measures  which  he 
might  see  fit  to  adopt ;  while,  should  the  affair  remain 
in  abeyance  until  they  reached  maturity,  it  might  in- 
volve a  conflicting  interest  dangerously  antagonistic 
to  his  views ;  and  should  the  younger  Prince  be  en- 
abled to  induce  the  Bretons  to  sustain  his  pretensions, 
would,  in  all  probability,  originate  a  civil  war,  or  even 
foreign  interference,  after  his  death, — a  consideration 
to  which  Francis  was  no  sooner  aroused,  than  he  gave 
the  astute  Minister  full  powers  to  act  in  his  name,  and 
upon  his  authority,  as  he  might  deem  best  suited  to 
insure  success.  Thus  empowered,  Duprat  at  once  ac- 
quainted his  royal  master  with  the  influence  which  he 
had  obtained  over  Des  Desserts ;  and  as  no  better  or 
more  feasible  alternative  presented  itself,  it  was  re- 


48  Reign  of 

solved  that  his  services  should  be  secured  at  any  cost. 
Nor  did  the  Breton  President  disappoint  the  hopes 
that  he  had  raised ;  for  by  his  eloquence  in  represent- 
ing the  extreme  peril  to  which  the  duchy  was  exposed 
by  the  perpetual  wars  that  were  devastating  Italy,  and 
the  consequences  entailed  upon  their  own  province, 
together  with  heavy  bribes,  and  prospects  of  court 
favour  to  the  most  influential  of  the  ducal  nobles,  he 
succeeded  in  prevailing  upon  the  States  themselves 
to  propose  their  annexation  to  the  King. 

This  object  was  no  sooner  attained  than  they  were 
convened  at  Vannes  (in  August,  1532) ;  while  in  order 
to  receive  their  overtures  more  courteously,  and  to 
render  himself  popular  in  their  immediate  neighbour- 
hood, Francis  proceeded  to  the  castle  of  the  Comte  de 
Chateaubriand ;  who,  having  at  length  become  recon- 
ciled to  his  erring  wife,  gave  him  such  a  welcome  as 
was  due  to  a  sovereign  from  his  subject;  an  act  of 
loyalty  for  which  the  King  royally  repaid  him,  by  pre- 
senting to  his  old  favourite  the  valuable  estates  of 
Rhuis  and  Sucinio. 

The  result  of  the  assembly  was  the  proclamation  of 
the  Dauphin  as  Duke  of  Brittany  under  the  title  of 
Fran9ois  III. ;  and  a  declaration  that  thenceforward 
the  duchy  was  irrevocably  united  to  the  French  throne, 
without  retaining,  upon  any  pretext,  the  power  of 
future  separation ;  but,  in  order  still  to  preserve  some 
shadow  of  the  privileges  which  they  had  thus  volun- 
tarily resigned,  letters-patent  were  previously  drawn 
up,  by  which  Francis  bound  himself  to  confirm  all  the 
ancient  rights  of  the  province,  and  guaranteed  that  no 
levy  of  specie  should  be  made  within  its  boundaries, 


Francis  I  49 

which  had  not  been  formally  sanctioned  by  the  States 
themselves. 

The  temporary  peace  enabled  the  King  to  pursue  all 
his  favourite  avocations,  among  which  that  of  build- 
ing new  palaces,  and  embellishing  old  ones,  was  con- 
spicuous. Magnificent  commencements  were  mani- 
fest at  the  Louvre ;  Fontainebleau  was  daily  increasing 
in  splendour;  St.  Germain  was  a  favourite  residence 
of  majesty,  and  was  enriched  by  many  precious  pro- 
ductions of  art;  the  little  chateau  of  La  Muette,  in  its 
silent  valley,  had  invaded  one  of  the  sweetest  solitudes 
in  nature ;  the  hunting-seat  of  Chalnau,  in  the  Gatinois, 
rose  amid  the  stately  and  overarching  trees  of  the 
forest ;  the  graceful  pavilion  of  Follembray,  in  Picardy, 
was  the  retreat  of  pleasure  and  intrigue;  Chambord 
was  truly  regal  alike  in  its  dimensions  and  its  decora- 
tions ;  Villars-Coteret  was  erected  to  indulge  a  caprice 
of  Madame  de  Chateaubriand  during  her  period  of 
favour;  and  even  the  Bois  de  Boulogne,  at  the  very 
gates  of  the  capital,  was  embellished  by  an  extraordi- 
nary edifice,  to  which  Francis  gave  the  name  of  the 
Chateau  of  Madrid. 

The  purpose  of  the  King  in  building  this  eccentric 
retreat  was  never  clearly  defined ;  although  it  gave  rise 
to  much  conflicting  conjecture.  Some  of  the  old 
chroniclers  affirm  that  it  was  constructed  upon  the 
model  of  the  castle  to  which  he  was  transferred  after 
his  betrothal  to  Eleonora,  and  his  removal  from  the 
Escurial;  and  that  to  this  circumstance  it  owed  its 
designation.  The  fallacy  of  this  assertion  is,  however, 
easily  proved,  the  whole  aspect  of  the  chateau  dis- 
countenancing such  an  idea.  It  stood  in  the  centre  of 
Vol.  IJL— 4 


50  Reign  of 

an  inclosed  park,  about  two  leagues  in  circumference, 
and  was  laden  with  ornaments.  Statuary  and  pictures 
abounded  within ;  while  the  whole  of  the  exterior  was 
incrusted  with  glazed  and  painted  bricks,  the  work  of 
the  celebrated  Bernard  Palissis,*  which  produced  an 
effect  rather  dazzling  than  regal.  The  building  was  in 
form  a  solid  square  mass ;  but  it  was  so  skilfully  dis- 
tributed within,  that  it  presented  several  distinct  sets 
of  apartments,  which  rendered  each  of  its  occupants 
totally  independent  of  the  interference  and  surveillance 
of  the  other  inhabitants.  This  circumstance  gave  rise 
to  a  second  assertion,  that  the  King  had  erected  it,  and 
afterwards  bestowed  upon  it  a  name  which  could 
scarcely  have  been  to  him  altogether  devoid  of  certain 
distasteful  associations,  because  in  the  entire  privacy 
which  it  afforded,  it  bore  a  striking  resemblance  to  his 
Spanish  prison.  Others,  again,  averred  that  it  was 
intended  as  an  architectural  sarcasm,  or,  as  it  might 
more  properly  have  been  called,  an  undignified  and 
contemptible  subterfuge  of  Francis;  who,  upon  sev- 
eral occasions  during  his  frequent  visits  to  his  su- 
burban palace,  when  expatiating  upon  the  pertinacity 
of  the  Emperor  in  urging  his  return  to  Madrid  in 

•  Bernard  Palissis,  or  Palissy,  was  born  in  the  diocese  of  Agen,  in 
1500,  of  parents  whose  extreme  poverty  deprived  him  of  all  means  of 
acquiring  even  the  most  slender  education.  He  became  a  house-porter 
at  Saintes,  where  he  invented  the  art  of  enamelling  earthenware,  and 
moreover  acquired,  unaided,  an  amount  of  knowledge  which  soon  drew 
upon  him  the  attention  of  his  townsmen.  His  fame  having  reached  the 
ears  of  Francis  I.,  he  was  invited  to  Paris,  where  he  ultimately  became 
Steward  of  the  Tuileries.  He  was  an  ardent  Reformist,  and  resisted 
all  the  efforts  made  by  Henry  III.  for  his  conversion  to  the  Romanist 
faith.  He  died  in  1590,  leaving  behind  him  two  remarkable  works,  which 
have  now  become  extremely  rare:  Le  Moyen  de  devenir  riche  par  l' Agri- 
culture, and  De  la  Nature  dcs  eaux  et  fontaines,  dcs  mitaux,  sels  et  salines, 
des  pierres,  des  terres,  du  feu,  et  dcs  imaux. 


Francis  I  51 

accordance  with  the  pledge  that  he  had  given,  was 
wont  to  say  with  a  bitter  smile :  "  His  reproaches  are 
alike  unjustifiable  and  misplaced ;  for,  on  the  faith  of  a 
gentleman,  I  am  at  Madrid  at  this  very  moment." 

Meanwhile  Charles  V.,  feeling  the  necessity  of  ap- 
pointing a  successor  to  Marguerite  d'Autriche,  as 
Governante  of  the  Low  Countries,  decided  on  con- 
ferring the  vacant  dignity  upon  his  sister  Mary,  the 
widowed  Queen  of  Hungary ;  and  he  accordingly  pro- 
ceeded to  Flanders,  to  effect  her  installation ;  but  as  he 
sojourned  there  for  a  greater  length  of  time  than  such 
a  ceremony  appeared  to  demand,  both  Henry  VHI. 
and  Francis  I.  became  alarmed,  and  on  the  23d  of 
June  they  concluded  a  treaty  of  mutual  defence,  and 
arranged  the  preliminaries  for  a  personal  interview 
towards  the  close  of  the  same  year,  in  order  that  they 
might  severally  decide  upon  such  measures  as  should 
appear  necessary  to  their  own  safety. 

His  mistrust  of  the  intentions  of  the  Emperor  did 
not,  however,  deter  the  English  King  from  thwarting 
all  the  measures  of  the  Pope ;  and  although  he  entered 
into  a  personal  controversy  with  Luther,  and  even 
produced  a  work  which  obtained  for  him  the  title  of 
Defender  of  the  Faith,  he  nevertheless  had  learnt  in 
the  course  of  his  researches,  to  entertain  doubts  of  the 
Papal  infallibility  ;  and  he  no  sooner  became  convinced 
that  Clement  VH.,  at  the  persuasion  of  the  Emperor, 
had  resolved  definitively  to  refuse  to  sanction  his 
divorce  from  Katherine  of  Aragon,  than  he  openly 
denied  it ;  although  he  nevertheless  continued  to  per- 
secute the  Reformists.  The  arrest  of  Wolsey  tended 
effectually  to  alienate  the  Romanist  party  from  his 


52  Reign  of 

interests;  while  the  virulence  with  which  he  pursued 
the  Lutherans  made  them  also  his  enemies ;  and  thus 
he  became  more  than  ever  anxious  to  secure  the  alli- 
ance and  friendship  of  the  French  King ;  who,  although 
totally  free  from  religious  scruples,  felt  his  dignity  also 
oflfended  by  the  pretensions  of  the  Pontiff  to  a  su- 
premacy which  involved  the  rights  of  his  own  crown ; 
and  consequently,  in  order  to  widen  the  breach  be- 
tween Henry  VIII.  and  the  Emperor,  he  advised  him 
to  make  Anna  Boleyn  his  wife,  without  any  reference 
to  the  assumed  authority  of  the  Church. 

Meanwhile  Charles  V.  had  completed  the  exaspera- 
tion of  the  German  Reformists,  shortly  after  his  return 
from  Italy,  by  convening  a  diet  at  Spires,  which  he 
caused  to  be  presided  over  by  his  brother  Ferdinand, 
who  had  recently  through  his  influence  been  elected 
King  of  the  Romans ;  and  at  which  a  decree  was  passed 
insisting  upon  the  observance  of  a  former  one  made  at 
Worms,  and  stringently  enforcing  the  observance  of 
the  mass,  and  every  other  ceremonial  of  the  Church, 
until  the  Pope  should  have  held  a  formal  council,  and 
deliberated  upon  the  final  measures  to  be  adopted. 
Upon  the  promulgation  of  this  decree,  the  independ- 
ent Princes  of  Germany  had  immediately  assembled, 
uttered  a  solemn  protest  against  his  authority,  and  ex- 
changed a  pledge  not  to  assist  the  Emperor  in  any 
war,  either  offensive  or  defensive,  which  he  might 
undertake,  until  the  edict  was  revoked. 

The  Protestants,  as  all  Reformists  were  thencefor- 
ward indiscriminately  designated,  next  sent  deputies 
to  Charles,  to  explain  alike  their  motives  and  the  de- 
cision at  which  they  had  arrived;  but  their  remon- 


Francis  I  53 

strances  were  treated  with  contempt;  and  in  1530,  the 
Emperor  held  a  diet  at  Augsburg,  where  Melancthon 
was  employed  by  the  Reformists  to  embody  in  writing 
the  immortal  profession  of  their  faith,  known  as  the 
Confession  of  Augsburg,  which  having  received  the 
signatures  of  the  several  Princes,  was  delivered  to 
Charles;  who,  although  he  still  affected  to  disregard 
their  coalition,  had  nevertheless  taken  instant  meas- 
ures to  weaken  the  power  and  to  destroy  the  authority 
of  its  members,  by  depriving  them  of  all  their  religious 
and  judicial  privileges ;  moreover  threatening  those 
who  refused  to  recur  to  their  original  faith  with  con- 
fiscation, exile,  and  even  death. 

Ferdinand  of  Austria  had  been  proclaimed  King  of 
the  Romans  on  the  5th  of  the  following  January,  not- 
withstanding the  opposition  of  the  Protestant  electors, 
who  immediately  became  convinced  that  they  should 
thereafter  have  to  contend  against  another  and  an 
equally  virulent  enemy ;  and  they  accordingly  assem- 
bled in  person  at  Smalkalden,  a  petty  town  in  Fran- 
conia,  whither  the  Emperor  had  already  convened 
their  deputies,  and  entered  into  a  treaty  of  defensive 
alliance;  entreating  by  letter  both  Henry  VIII.  and 
Francis  to  assist  them  in  the  maintenance  of  their 
rights,  and  the  defence  of  their  liberties. 

To  this  request  the  French  King  had  not  only  ac- 
ceded, but  had  also  assured  them  that  he  entertained 
no  doubt  of  the  co-operation  of  his  brother  of  Eng- 
land; and  about  the  same  time  he  had  also  received 
with  marked  courtesy  the  ambassadors  despatched  to 
his  court  by  John  Zapolsky,*  Count  of  Sepus,  whom 

•  John  de  Zapolsky,  Vayvode  of  Transylvania,  was  appealed  to  by  the 
Hungarian  nobility  to  suppress  the  brigands  who  infested  their  country; 


54  Reign  of 

the  Hungarians  had  elected  as  their  King,  and  who 
was  anxious  to  form  an  alHance  with  one  of  the  Prin- 
cesses of  France,  as  well  as  to  obtain  a  loan.  Their 
embassy  was  successful ;  for  Francis,  with  sundry  pro- 
fessions of  friendship  towards  the  new  sovereign,  not 
only  consented  to  bestow  upon  him  the  hand  of 
Madame  Isabeau,  the  sister  of  the  King  of  Navarre, 
but  also  forwarded  to  him  a  sum  of  money,  on  condi- 
tion that  he  should  not  invade  the  territories  of  any 
of  the  allies  of  France,  or  make  war  upon  them ;  or  in 
any  extremity,  or  under  any  provocation,  avail  himself 
of  the  assistance  of  the  Turks,  as  by  countenancing  the 
entrance  of  the  Infidels  into  Christendom,  he  would 
draw  down  upon  himself  the  vengeance  of  the  French 
nation. 

By  this  subtle  stroke  of  policy  Francis  succeeded  in 
rendering  the  Hungarian  monarch  powerless,  for  he 
was  well  aware  that  his  only  enemy  was  Ferdinand, 
King  of  the  Romans,  and  that  the  Sultan  was  his  fast 
friend  ;  while  it  is  moreover  asserted  by  Garnier  that  at 
the  very  moment  in  which  he  insisted  on  these  terms, 
to  the  extreme  edification  of  his  subjects,  he  was  al- 
ready himself  in  secret  correspondence  with  the  Mus- 
sulmans. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  summer  Guillaume  du  Bel- 
lay,  (Seigneur  de  Langes,)  and  M.  de  la  Pommeraye, 

and  in  recompense  of  his  prompt  and  effective  services,  had  been  elected 
as  the  successor  of  Louis  II.  in  1526.  His  election  was  opposed  by  Ferdi- 
nand of  Austria,  who  was  also  ambitious  of  the  crown;  and  after  a  war 
which  lasted  for  several  years,  the  two  rivals  entered  into  a  treaty  (1536), 
by  which  each  remained  in  undisturbed  possession  of  the  territories 
which  he  had  conquered  during  the  feud.  Zapolsky  died  in  1540,  without 
bequeathing  the  kingdom  to  his  son  John-Sigismond,  who  inherited  only 
the  sovereignty  of  Transylvania,  and  who  died  without  issue  in  1571. 


Francis  I  55 

the  two  French  ambassadors  at  the  court  of  London, 
arranged  with  Henry  VIII.  the  period  and  place  at 
which  the  meeting  should  be  held  which  had  already 
been  decided  on  between  himself  and  their  own  sov- 
ereign. Montmorenci  on  the  one  side,  and  the  Duke 
of  Norfolk  on  the  other,  were  entrusted  with  the  ar- 
rangement of  the  ceremonial ;  and  when  all  was  duly 
prepared,  Henry  proceeded  to  Calais,  while  Francis 
took  up  his  temporary  residence  at  Boulogne.  On 
the  20th  of  October  the  two  Kings  met  on  the  boun- 
dary of  their  respective  territories,  where  the  French 
monarch  presented  the  Dauphin  and  the  Due  d'Or- 
leans  to  his  royal  ally.  Henry  was  attended  by  the 
Dukes  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  the  Earl  of  Richmond, 
and  a  splendid  suite  of  nobles  and  gentlemen ;  while 
the  Due  de  Vendome,  and  the  Comtes  de  Saint-Pol 
and  de  Guise,  with  all  the  first  nobility  of  France,  were 
in  the  train  of  Francis. 

So  soon  as  the  first  greetings  were  over,  the  French 
King  conducted  his  royal  guest  to  Boulogne,  where 
he  was  received  with  a  salute  of  artillery ;  and  thence 
the  courtly  party  proceeded  to  the  abbey,  an  immense 
and  majestic  pile,  having  two  wings  connected  by  a 
stately  hall  which  served  as  the  refectory  of  the  monks, 
but  which  was  on  this  occasion  hung  with  costly 
draperies  of  tapestry,  and  roofed  with  scarlet  silk. 
One  of  the  wings  of  the  building  was  appropriated  to 
the  English  monarch,  while  the  other  was  occupied 
by  Francis  himself.  The  two  Kings  dined  apart ;  after 
which  they  retired  to  a  private  cabinet,  where  they 
remained  closeted  together  for  a  considerable  time. 
On  the  morrow  the  magnificent  hall  was  prepared  for 


56  Reign  ot 

the  banquet,  with  a  profuse  display  of  gold  vessels, 
richly  inlaid  with  jewels ;  and  throughout  the  enter- 
tainment both  the  sovereigns  were  served  by  their 
respective  officers  on  their  knees.  At  the  termination 
of  the  repast  they  attended  mass  in  great  state;  after 
which  Francis  presented  to  his  royal  guest  six  superb 
horses ;  and  the  English  King  transferred  to  the  young 
Princes  the  three  hundred  thousand  crowns  which 
were  due  to  him  by  their  father.  The  Dukes  of  Nor- 
folk and  Suffolk  then  received  from  the  hands  of  their 
distinguished  host  the  Collar  of  St.  Michael ;  a  courtesy 
which  Henry  returned  by  conferring  upon  the  Mare- 
chal  de  Montmorenci,  and  Philippe  de  Brion-Chabot, 
Grand  Admiral  of  Boulogne,  the  Order  of  the  Garter. 
At  the  end  of  several  days,  divided  between  busi- 
ness and  festivity,  the  two  courts  removed  to  Calais, 
where  Francis  became,  in  his  turn,  the  guest  of  his 
brother  monarch,  and  where  the  same  profuse  mag- 
nificence was  exhibited  ;  and,  finally,  a  treaty  was  con- 
cluded, and  immediately  rendered  public,  by  which 
they  bound  themselves  to  supply  an  army  of  eighty 
thousand  men,  wherewith  to  resist  the  invasion  of 
Christendom  by  the  Turks.  The  result  of  their  pri- 
vate conferences  was,  however,  more  intimately  con- 
nected with  their  own  interests.  Henry,  irritated  at 
the  attitude  assumed  by  Clement  VH.,  frankly  de- 
clared his  indignation,  affirming  that  his  marriage  was 
invalid,  as  he  had  the  authority  of  the  Gospel  for  what 
he  had  decided,  and  that  the  Pope  had  no  legitimate 
claim  to  the  supremacy  which  he  assumed.  Well 
aware,  also,  of  the  besetting  weakness  of  his  listener, 
he  conjured  him  never  again  to  condescend  to  the 


Francis  I  57 

humiliation  of  kissing  the  toe  of  a  Bishop  of  Rome ; 
and  represented  how  much  the  dignity  of  a  crowned 
King  suffered  from  so  great  a  concession.  He,  more- 
over, complained  bitterly  of  the  pride  of  Clement  VII., 
who  had  endeavoured  to  compel  him  either  to  proceed 
to  Rome  in  person  to  solicit  a  Papal  dispensation  for 
the  divorce  he  sought,  or  to  despatch  thither  an  ac- 
credited plenipotentiary,  authorized  to  act  in  his  name  ; 
and,  finally,  he  proposed  that  a  general  council  should 
be  immediately  convened,  to  which  the  Pontiff  should 
be  summoned  by  ambassadors  from  England  and 
France,  and  called  upon  to  redress  the  grievances  of 
which  the  Princes  of  Christendom  had  now  such 
serious  reasons  to  complain. 

Francis,  however,  was  careful  not  to  commit  him- 
self. He  had  been  apprised  by  the  Cardinal  de  Gram- 
mont  that  the  Pope  was  desirous  to  secure  an  inter- 
view with  him  either  at  Nice  or  Avignon,  immediately 
the  Emperor  should  have  returned  to  Spain;  while 
the  Cardinal,  moreover,  urgently  entreated  that  he 
would  not  take  any  definitive  step  until  he  should  have 
informed  himself  of  the  dispositions  of  the  Pontiff. 
Nevertheless,  he  admitted,  in  reply  to  the  representa- 
tions of  Henry,  that  he  also  had  great  cause  of  com- 
plaint against  Clement  VII.,  and  expatiated  largely 
upon  the  interference  of  the  Pontiff  with  the  internal 
economy  of  the  French  Church  ;  his  failure  in  fulfilling 
his  pledges;  and  the  exorbitant  outlay  to  which  his 
government  was  compelled  by  the  fees  which  he  was 
required  to  give  to  all  the  ushers,  chamberlains,  and 
prothonotaries  of  Rome,  whenever  he  found  it  neces- 
sary to  ask  any  favour  at  the  hands  of  the  Pope.    After 


58  Reign  of 

which,  reverting  to  his  more  personal  injuries,  he  ex- 
pressed his  indignation  that  Clement  should  so  readily 
have  credited  the  report  that  he  was  secretly  allied 
with  the  Turks,  while  he  had,  on  the  contrary,  spared 
no  pains  to  justify  His  Holiness  on  every  occasion 
where  blame  had  been  attached  to  him  by  other 
Princes ;  and,  finally,  he  expatiated  in  no  measured 
terms  upon  the  menaces,  the  intrigues,  and  the  secret 
cabals  by  which  the  court  of  Rome  had  endeavoured 
to  detach  from  his  interest  the  most  faithful  of  his 
allies. 

Charles  V.,  who  had  been  apprised  of  the  reception 
given  to  the  Hungarian  envoys,  as  well  as  of  the  reply 
which  Francis  had  addressed  to  the  Protestant  Princes, 
became,  in  his  turn,  suspicious  that  a  conspiracy  was 
forming  against  himself ;  a  suspicion  which  the  present 
meeting  between  the  two  Kings,  his  declared  enemies, 
tended  to  strengthen;  and  as  it  had  become  known 
that  Solyman  H.  was  about  to  attempt  an  invasion  of 
Germany,  he  resolved  to  satisfy  himself  of  the  truth, 
by  testing,  without  further  delay,  the  sincerity  of  the 
French  monarch.  With  this  view  he  consequently 
summoned  Francis  to  furnish  an  army  against  the 
Turks;  a  demonstration  to  which  he  was  solemnly 
bound  by  the  treaty  of  Madrid,  which  he  had  repeat- 
edly declared  his  readiness  to  make,  and  to  which  he 
had,  moreover,  just  newly  pledged  himself  in  the 
treaty  eflfected  with  the  King  of  England  ;  but  in  reply 
to  the  imperial  requisition,  the  French  sovereign,  after 
numerous  assertions  of  his  zeal  for  religion,  and  his 
eagerness  to  assist  in  so  noble  and  pious  an  enterprise, 
contented  himself  by  offering  to  march  a  force  of  fifty 


Francis  I  59 

thousand  men  to  Italy  for  the  protection  of  that  coun- 
try, while  the  Emperor  secured  the  safety  of  Germany ; 
the  Hungarian  frontier  being,  as  he  affirmed,  too  dis- 
tant from  France  to  render  it  expedient  for  him  to 
despatch  a  body  of  troops  to  that  point. 

His  proposal  was,  as  he  had  foreseen  that  it  would 
be,  instantly  and  definitively  declined;  and  the  Em- 
peror, convinced  of  the  utter  futility  of  anticipating  any 
available  assistance  from  France,  immediately  took  the 
field  in  person,  and  succeeded  in  compelling  the  retreat 
of  Solyman  without  even  a  hostile  meeting. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  engagement  made 
by  Henry  and  Francis  to  join  the  crusade  against  the 
Infidels,  was  merely  intended  to  avert  the  odium  which 
their  supineness  was  calculated  to  draw  down  upon 
them,  and  to  delude  the  other  Christian  Princes  into  a 
belief  that  they  were  ready  to  sacrifice  more  intimate 
interests  to  the  defence  of  their  religion ;  for  it  is  cer- 
tain that  they  never  evinced  the  slightest  intention  of 
fulfilling  their  voluntary  compact. 

Never,  perhaps,  was  the  bad  faith  of  Francis  more 
conspicuous  than  throughout  the  whole  period  of  his 
conferences  with  the  English  King ;  for,  even  while  he 
promised  his  support  to  the  Reformists,  and  induced 
Henry  VIII.  to  follow  his  example,  he  had  already 
entered  into  a  correspondence  with  the  Pope,  request- 
ing that  they  might  meet  in  order  to  confer  on  the 
affairs  of  Christendom ;  and  offering  the  hand  of 
Henry,  Due  d'Orleans,  his  second  son,  to  Catherine 
de'  Medici,  the  daughter  of  Lorenzo  II.,  Due  d'Urbino, 
the  niece  of  the  Pontiff. 

Startled  by  the  prospect  of  an  alliance  so  infinitely 


6o  Reign  of 

above  his  hopes,  Clement  hesitated  how  to  reply,  for 
he  doubted  its  sincerity,  and  suspected  some  covert 
treachery ;  and  while  under  the  influence  of  this  dis- 
trust, he  communicated  the  proposal  of  Francis  to 
the  Emperor,  who,  equally  convinced  that  it  was  in- 
tended only  as  a  lure,  advised  him  to  follow  up  the 
negotiation,  and  thus  entangle  the  French  King  in  his 
own  toils.  But  Charles  was  unaware  of  the  policy 
which  had  dictated  the  offer.  Francis  still  coveted  the 
possession  of  Italy;  and  regarding  the  Pope  as  the 
pivot  of  Italian  politics,  he  looked  upon  his  friendship 
and  alliance  as  the  corner-stone  of  success.  To  secure 
these  he  consequently  considered  no  sacrifice  too 
great ;  and  hence  the  proposal  which  had  been  received 
with  so  much  suspicion  both  by  the  Pontiff  and  the 
Emperor.  As,  however,  even  while  pursuing  the 
negotiation,  Clement  VII.  had  evinced  no  anxiety  to 
bring  it  to  a  conclusion,  Francis  resolved  to  maintain 
his  friendly  intelligence  with  the  English  King;  and 
to  secure  his  assistance  in  extorting  from  the  fears  of 
the  Pope  what  he  could  not  obtain  from  his  favour. 

An  opportunity  soon  presented  itself  of  effecting 
this  stroke  of  policy ;  for  the  two  monarchs  were  still 
at  Calais  when  intelligence  reached  them,  that  Charles 
v.,  having  terminated  his  campaign  against  the  Infi- 
dels, was  about  to  leave  Germany,  and  to  repair  to 
Spain  through  Italy,  where  he  was  to  be  met  at  Bo- 
logna by  the  Pope.  Alarmed  at  the  consequences  of 
such  a  meeting  at  that  particular  juncture,  it  was 
immediately  proposed  by  Francis,  and  agreed  by 
Henry,  that  the  Cardinals  of  Tournon  and  Grammont 
should  be  despatched  to  accompany  the  Sovereign 
Pontiff,  an  attendance  which  he  could  not  refuse  from 


Francis  I  6i 

two  Princes  of  the  Church ;  and  that  they  should  be 
authorised  to  inform  him  that  the  Kings  of  England 
and  France  were  prepared  to  demand  a  general  coun- 
cil, in  default  of  which  they  would  convene  distinct 
assemblies  within  their  own  kingdoms ;  when,  in  the 
event  of  this  measure  being  forced  upon  them,  they 
should  prohibit  their  subjects  from  forwarding  money 
to  Rome.  That,  moreover,  should  the  Pontiff  persist 
in  pursuing  with  his  censure  the  Most  Christian  King 
and  his  realm,  and  his  Majesty  find  it  expedient  to 
repair  to  Rome  in  order  to  obtain  his  absolution,  he 
would  do  so  with  such  a  train  of  followers  that  His 
Holiness  would  easily  be  induced  to  satisfy  his  de- 
mand ;  and  they  were  also  instructed  to  remind  him 
of  the  religious  anarchy  which  existed  not  only  in 
Germany  and  the  Helvetic  states,  but  throughout  the 
the  whole  of  Christian  Europe,  and  to  bid  him  reflect 
upon  the  diminished  influence  of  the  Romish  Church ; 
as  well  as  upon  the  fact,  that,  should  two  of  the  most 
powerful  sovereigns  of  Christendom  forsake  his  in- 
terests because  they  had  been  denied  the  justice  which 
they  demanded,  they  would  infallibly  find  so  many 
other  Princes  ready  to  make  common  cause  with  them, 
that  the  result  must  be  fatal  to  his  authority. 

After  this  combined  declaration  the  two  Kings  took 
leave  of  each  other  on  the  30th  of  October,  on  the 
same  spot  where  they  had  met,  and  with  every  demon- 
stration of  cordiality  and  affection ;  M.  de  Montpezat, 
the  fortunate  adventurer,  who,  after  the  battle  of 
Pavia,  had  officiated  as  valet-de-chambre  to  Francis 
in  his  captivity,  and  who  had  been  appointed  one  of 
his  chamberlains,  accompanying  Henry  VHI.  to  Eng- 
land as  the  ambassador  of  his  sovereign. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  Pope  Desires  to  Conciliate  the  French  King — His  Per- 
sonal Ambition — A  Meeting  is  Arranged  between  the  Pope 
and  Francis — Francis  Makes  Overtures  to  the  Duke  of  Milan 
— Untoward  Affair  at  Milan — Maraviglia — His  Arrogance 
Awakens  the  Suspicions  of  Charles  V. — Treason  of  Sforza 
— A  Lacquey  of  Maraviglia  Challenges  the  Milanese  Count 
Castiglione — Murder  of  Maraviglia — Indignation  of  the 
French  King — Duplicity  of  Sforza — The  Duke's  Envoy  is 
Dismissed  with  Ignominy — Charles  V.  Bestows  the  Hand 
of  the  Princess  Christina  on  the  Duke  of  Milan — Death  of 

.  the  Duke — The  Duke  of  Wirtemberg  Solicits  the  Support 
of  Francis  against  the  Emperor — Du  Bellay  Intercedes  for 
the  Young  Duke — Confirmation  of  the  Peace  of  Nuremberg 
— The  Pope  Proceeds  to  Marseilles  to  Meet  the  French  King 
— He  is  Received  with  Great  Pomp — Homage  is  Rendered 
by  Francis  to  the  Pontiff — The  Latin  Oration — Henry  VIII. 
Despatches  Bishop  Bonner  to  the  Pope — Charles  V.  En- 
deavours to  Prevent  the  Marriage  of  Catherine  de'  Medici— 
The  Marriage  is  Solemnized  by  the  Pope — The  Boy-Cardi- 
nal— The  Pope  Returns  to  Italy. 

THE  two  French  Cardinals  did  not  reach  Bologna, 
whither  the  Pope  and  the  Emperor  had  already 
preceded  them,  until  the  4th  of  January,  1533;  and 
they  soon  became  aware  that  all  the  menaces  with 
which  they  were  charged  might  be  left  unuttered,  as 
the  Pontiff  was  avowedly  anxious  to  secure  the  friend- 
ship of  their  royal  master,  even  declaring  that  he 

62 


Francis  I  63 

should  scarcely  consider  any  sacrifice  too  great  by 
which  he  might  regain  it.  And  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  he  was  sincere  when  he  made  this  assertion ;  for, 
infirm  as  he  might  be  in  purpose,  and  timid  in  the 
maintenance  of  his  privileges  and  power,  when  he  was 
required  to  support  his  pretensions  by  force,  he  was 
by  no  means  deficient  in  the  more  subtle  science  of 
diplomacy ;  and  readily  comprehended  that,  should 
Francis,  in  reality,  hold  himself  bound  to  fulfil  the 
contract  into  which  he  had  entered,  he  could  anticipate 
no  equivalent  advantage  at  the  hands  of  the  Em- 
peror. 

Clement  VII.,  like  his  kinsman  and  predecessor  in 
the  Papal  dignity,  Leo  X.,  was  devoted  to  the  interests 
of  his  family,  and  his  ruling  passion  was  the  aggran- 
dizement of  the  house  of  Medici.  He  had  seen,  with 
an  anguish  which  he  could  not  always  conceal,  the 
apparently  rapid  extinction  of  his  line  ;  for  in  that  light 
he  regarded  only  the  elder  branch,  who  were  the  direct 
descendants  of  Cosmo ;  and  of  whom  none  remained 
save  Catherine,  the  Duchesse  d'Urbino,  whose  father 
was  the  great-grandson  of  Cosmo  ;  and  who,  although 
she  bore  the  title  of  his  niece,  was  in  point  of  fact  the 
grand-daughter  of  his  own  cousin-germain.  The  re- 
mainder, consisting  of  himself  and  his  brothers,  were 
illegitimate,  and  of  these  the  Pope  was  the  eldest; 
Alessandro,  upon  whom  he  had  conferred  the  duchy 
of  Florence,  the  second ;  and  Hyppolito,  whom  he  had 
created  a  Cardinal,  the  third.  It  will,  therefore,  readily 
be  believed  that  Clement  reflected  with  exultation 
upon  the  alliance  of  his  niece  with  a  Prince  of  the 
blood  royal  of  France;  and  the  two  Cardinals  were 


64  Reign  of 

earnest  in  their  assurances  of  the  good  faith  of  their 
sovereign.  It  is  true  that  Charles  V.  had  previously 
promised  to  Alessandro  the  hand  of  his  daughter  Mar- 
guerite, but  the  same  stain  was  affixed  to  her  birth 
which  rested  upon  his  own ;  whereas,  the  Due  d'Or- 
leans  was  the  legitimate  descendant  of  a  Hne  of 
princes. 

The  more,  therefore,  the  Pontiff  reflected  upon  the 
proposal  of  Francis,  and  the  more  closely  and  care- 
fully he  compared  the  advantages  which  he  should 
secure  from  his  adhesion  to  either  sovereign,  the  more 
he  became  convinced  that  the  period  for  hesitation 
was  at  an  end ;  and  having  arrived  at  this  conclusion, 
the  French  Cardinals  had  no  sooner  requested  his  de- 
cision with  regard  to  the  meeting  proposed  by  their 
monarch,  than  he  declared  his  readiness,  notwithstand- 
ing his  advanced  age  and  failing  strength,  to  undertake 
a  journey  to  Savoy  for  the  purpose  of  a  personal  con- 
ference. To  this  place  of  meeting,  Francis,  however, 
instantly  objected,  as,  since  the  death  of  his  mother, 
he  had  ceased  to  maintain  any  friendly  intercourse 
with  her  family,  who  had  been  enriched  and  protected 
by  the  Emperor.  Clement  then  proposed  Nice ;  but 
from  the  same  motive  the  French  King  equally  re- 
fused to  enter  that  city,  unless  he  were  permitted  to 
garrison  both  the  town  and  the  citadel  with  his  own 
troops.  From  this  concession  the  Due  de  Savoie  was 
dissuaded  by  Charles  V.,  who  was  anxious  to  prevent 
the  meeting;  and  ultimately  the  Pope,  who  dreaded 
the  failure  of  his  brilliant  hopes,  declared  his  willing- 
ness even  to  proceed  to  France,  and  selected  Marseilles 
as  the  place  of  rendezvous. 


Francis  I  65 

Two  events  had,  however,  occurred  at  Milan  and 
Wirtemberg,  which  were  calculated  to  retard  the  good 
understanding  between  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  and  the 
French  King,  which  each  were  so  anxious  to  estab- 
lish. Francis,  in  utter  disregard  of  the  treaty  of  Cam- 
bray,  had  never  ceased  his  intrigues,  either  in  Italy  or 
in  Germany.  He  could  not  forego  his  desire  to  secure 
once  more  the  possession  of  Milan ;  and  even  while  in 
treaty  with  the  Pope  to  accomplish  the  invasion  of  the 
duchy,  he  had  endeavoured  to  renew  his  alliance  with 
the  Duke  himself. 

Lorenzo  Sforza,  who  had  suffered  severely  from  the 
enmity  of  the  Spaniards  during  the  war,  had  for  some 
time  past  found  himself  a  mere  puppet  in  their  hands. 
He  possessed  nothing  of  sovereignty  save  the  name. 
He  was  a  mere  vassal  to  the  Emperor,  by  whose 
exorbitant  demands  he  was  impoverished ;  and  more- 
over subjected  to  the  surveillance  of  Antonio  da  Leyva, 
between  whom  and  himself  there  existed  an  enmity  of 
long  standing,  and  who  took  a  savage  delight  in  ex- 
posing him  to  the  most  constant  and  bitter  humilia- 
tions. 

Under  these  circumstances,  it  will  be  readily  under- 
stood that  Sforza  did  not  reject  the  overtures  of  the 
French  King ;  for  he  was  too  well  aware  of  his  inabil- 
ity to  protect  himself  against  the  exactions  of  the 
Emperor,  to  lose  so  favourable  an  opportunity  of  se- 
curing the  alliance  of  a  power'-il  monarch ;  and  it  was 
consequently  without  any  hesitation  that  he  consented 
to  permit  the  return  of  a  Milanese  emigrant,  who,  dur- 
ing the  reign  of  Louis  XH.  had  followed  the  Grand 
Equerry  Galeaz  San  Severino,  to  France,  where  he 
Vol.  III.— 5 


66  Reign  of 

had  accumulated  a  large  fortune;  and  even  allowed 
him  to  act  as  the  secret  agent  of  Francis  at  his  court. 
His  immense  wealth  enabled  Maraviglia,  the  indi- 
vidual in  question,  to  entertain  the  nobles  of  Milan 
with  a  profuse  liberality,  by  which  he  soon  attained 
great  popularity ;  and  although  many  of  the  courtiers 
and  foreigners  who  were  then  sojourning  in  the  duchy, 
were  not  without  suspicion  that  his  favour  with  Sforza 
was  not  altogether  unconnected  with  interests  beyond 
a  mere  personal  regard,  the  precautions  which  had 
been  adopted  on  both  sides  proved  so  efficient  as  to 
baffle,  for  a  time,  the  curiosity  of  those  who  sought  to 
elucidate  the  mystery. 

Maraviglia  had,  on  his  departure  from  France,  been 
furnished  with  letters  of  credence,  which  were  to  be 
kept  secret  unless  circumstances  should  imperatively 
demand  their  recognition  on  the  part  of  the  French 
King ;  while  a  second  document,  which  merely  recom- 
mended him  to  Sforza  as  a  person  worthy  of  his  favour 
and  protection,  was  also  delivered  to  him,  which  he 
was  instructed  to  present  to  the  Duke,  in  the  presence 
of  his  court. 

Francis  was,  however,  equally  unfortunate  in  his 
selection  of  an  agent  and  an  ally;  for  the  vanity  of 
Maraviglia  was  so  inflated  by  the  fact  of  his  having 
become  the  accredited  envoy  of  a  crowned  head,  that 
it  was  not  long  ere  he  assumed  an  authority  and  im- 
portance wholly  incompatible  with  his  station  as  a 
mere  Milanese  citizen ;  and,  adopting  a  custom  which 
had  been  introduced  into  Italy  by  the  Spaniards,  sur- 
rounded himself  by  a  set  of  attendants  who  recognised 
no  law  beyond  his  pleasure,  and  were  ever  ready  to 


Francis  I  67 

seek  and  even  to  provoke  quarrels,  in  which  they  af- 
fected to  uphold  the  honour  of  their  master,  with  which 
Maraviglia  soon  taught  himself  to  believe  that  that  of 
the  French  nation  was  involved. 

The  arrogance  of  the  parvenu  gentleman  ere  long 
aroused  the  ever  watchful  distrust  of  the  Emperor, 
who  complained  to  Sforza  of  the  insults  to  which  his 
subjects  were  exposed  by  the  countenance  he  had  seen 
fit  to  afford  to  an  individual  who  could  advance  no 
claim  to  such  a  distinction,  unless  he  were  aware  that 
he  was  supported  by  a  higher  power;  while  it  was 
equally  evident  that  should  such  a  power  exist,  it  could 
only  be  derived  from  the  King  of  France;  in  which 
case  he,  the  Emperor,  as  the  suzerain  of  the  Duke  of 
Milan,  demanded  the  immediate  dismissal  of  Mara- 
viglia from  the  court ;  adding,  that  should  Sforza  hesi- 
tate to  comply  with  his  commands,  the  projected  mar- 
riage between  himself  and  the  Princess  of  Denmark 
was  thenceforward  at  an  end. 

The  faithless  ally,  upon  this  threat,  proved  even  a 
more  dangerous  confidant  than  the  ostentatious  agent ; 
for  he  did  not  scruple,  while  forwarding  to  the  Em- 
peror the  letter  of  recommendation  which  had  been 
given  to  Maraviglia,  to  declare  that  he  simply  recog- 
nised in  him  a  Milanese  citizen  to  whom  Francis  had 
requested  him  to  show  favour;  and  that,  in  acting  as 
he  had  done,  he  had  merely  sought  to  give  a  worthy 
welcome  to  a  person  presented  to  him  by  one  of  the 
most  powerful  monarchs  of  Christendom.  Charles  V. 
was  not,  however,  to  be  so  deceived ;  he  still  urged  the 
removal  of  the  obnoxious  and  mysterious  recipient  of 
the  Duke's  favour ;  and,  ultimately,  Sforza  assured  him 


68  Reign  of 

that  if  he  would  only  grant  him  the  respite  of  a  few 
days,  he  would  convince  him  of  the  error  of  his  sus- 
picions. 

Precisely  at  this  period,  one  of  the  lacqueys  of  Mara- 
viglia,  pretending  to  consider  that  words  had  been 
uttered  by  the  Count  Castiglione,  a  Milanese  noble- 
man, which  affected  the  honour  of  his  master,  imme- 
diately resented  the  affront  in  very  unmeasured  terms ; 
but  the  Count,  probably  considering  the  menial  as  too 
low  in  rank  to  permit  him  to  reply  to  his  intemperate 
address,  silently  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  passed  on  ; 
when  a  second  attendant  of  Maraviglia,  either  more 
courageous  or  more  insolent  than  his  comrade,  fol- 
lowed up  the  defiance  by  pursuing  the  retiring  noble, 
and  declaring  that  he  could  not  suffer  such  assertions 
to  be  made  against  the  master  whose  livery  he  wore, 
and  whom  all  the  Milanese,  whatever  might  be  their 
station,  were  bound  to  respect.  Castiglione,  who  felt 
that  his  dignity  would  be  involved  by  a  brawl  with  the 
lacquey  of  an  adventurer,  bade  him  put  up  his  sword, 
which  he  had  already  unsheathed,  asserting  that  it  was 
not  for  him  to  measure  weapons  with  a  hired  depend- 
ent ;  and,  with  a  haughtiness  and  self-possession  which 
only  tended  to  aggravate  the  passion  of  his  self-consti- 
tuted opponent,  referred  him  to  a  couple  of  his  own 
followers,  to  whom  he  delegated  the  task  of  arranging 
the  quarrel. 

This  richly  merited  but  unpalatable  check  by  no 
means  tended  to  diminish  the  rage  of  the  bully  by 
whom  he  had  been  defied;  while,  on  the  other  hand, 
the  individuals  of  the  Count's  suite  were  justly  indig- 
nant at  the  disrespect  evinced  towards  their  lord ;  and 


Francis  I  69 

accordingly,  the  two  whom,  as  he  proceeded  on  his 
way,  he  left  behind  him  to  discuss  the  merits  of  the 
affair,  at  once  flung  themselves  upon  the  offender,  and 
would  have  sacrificed  him  on  the  spot  had  they  not 
been  prevented  by  the  bystanders. 

When  the  circumstances  of  this  outbreak  were  com- 
municated to  the  Duke,  he  insisted  that  no  further 
notice  should  be  taken  of  an  affair  which  had  evidently 
originated  in  a  mistake,  and  which  could  profit  neither 
party;  a  decision  in  which  Maraviglia  instantly  ac- 
quiesced, declaring  that  he  was  unconscious  of  having 
a  single  enemy  in  Milan,  where  he  had  sought  to  con- 
ciliate all  with  whom  he  came  into  contact.  But  it 
would  appear  that  Castiglione  had  received  other  and 
more  secret  instructions ;  for  it  is  certain  that  he  after- 
wards adopted  a  habit  of  constantly  passing  and  re- 
passing in  front  of  the  residence  of  Maraviglia,  attended 
by  a  dozen  armed  attendants,  and  even  attacked  some 
of  his  people  on  one  occasion  without  provocation  of 
any  sort.  The  unfortunate  agent,  becoming  alarmed 
for  his  personal  safety,  at  once  appealed  to  the  magis- 
trature  for  protection,  but  the  interference  of  the  civic 
authorities  produced  no  satisfactory  result.  Castig- 
lione persisted  in  his  system  of  annoyance  and  aggres- 
sion ;  and  ultimately  lost  his  life  in  an  attack  which  he 
made  upon  the  retainers  of  Maraviglia,  who  no  sooner 
saw  him  fall  than  they  totally  routed  his  followers. 
This  murder,  committed  in  open  daylight,  and  in  a  city 
where  such  enormities  were  unknown,  excited  uni- 
versal indignation.  Maraviglia  was  arrested  on  the 
following  morning,  as  well  as  the  whole  of  his  house- 
hold ;  he  was  tried  without  delay,  and  three  days  after- 
wards he  was  decapitated. 


yo  Reign  of 

The  indignation  of  Francis  was  unbounded  when  he 
was  made  acquainted  with  the  fate  of  his  equerry  and 
agent;  and  he  forthwith  wrote  to  the  Pope,  the  Em- 
peror, and  the  Duke  of  Milan,  complaining  that  he  had 
suffered  a  crying  indignity  in  the  person  of  his  am- 
bassador, the  sacred  character  of  whose  mission,  hith- 
erto respected  throughout  Europe,  had  been  grossly 
violated.  He  also  addressed  letters  of  a  similar  tenor 
to  Ferdinand,  King  of  the  Romans,  to  Henry  VHL, 
and  to  the  Helvetic  States,  as  well  as  to  all  the  petty 
European  Princes,  representing  the  mischievous  effect 
of  such  a  precedent,  should  it  be  suffered  to  remain 
unchastised,  and  calling  upon  them  to  avenge  the  in- 
sult offered  to  his  kingly  station  and  authority. 

Sforza,  in  reply  to  this  expostulation,  at  once  de- 
spatched Francesco  Taverna,  his  Chancellor,  to 
France,  to  offer  his  apologies  for  what  had  occurred ; 
and  even  carried  his  audacity  so  far  as  to  instruct  his 
envoy  to  declare  to  the  King  that  he  had  never  re- 
garded Maraviglia  in  any  other  light  than  that  of  a 
simple  citizen,  and  that,  consequently,  he  was  totally 
unprepared  to  expect  that  his  Majesty  could  feel  so 
great  an  interest  in  his  fate.  He  also  authorized  him 
to  state  that  he  was  unaware  of  his  holding  official 
employment,  which  rendered  his  person  sacred,  hav- 
ing always  been  led  to  beheve  that  Maraviglia  had  been 
induced  to  return  to  Milan,  simply  by  a  desire  to  ex- 
pend the  money  which  he  had  amassed  abroad  among 
his  own  countrymen,  although  he  was  cognisant  of 
the  fact  that  his  Majesty  had  honoured  him  with  the 
arrangement  of  some  private  business  totally  uncon- 
nected with  considerations  of  policy ;  but  that,  had  he 


Francis  I  71 

entertained  the  most  remote  idea  that  the  unfortunate 
gentleman  had  been  officially  employed  by  so  great  a 
Prince,  to  whom  he  himself  owed  so  deep  a  debt  of 
gratitude  and  respect,  he  would  have  watched  over 
his  days  with  a  solicitude  which  must  have  averted  a 
catastrophe  that  he  should  now  never  cease  to  deplore ; 
while,  recognising  only  in  the  accused  gentleman  a 
subject  of  his  own,  he  had  deemed  it  his  duty  to  avenge 
upon  him  the  blood  of  Count  Castiglione,  who  was 
one  of  the  officers  of  his  household. 

Francis  indignantly  refused  to  receive  so  hypocriti- 
cal an  explanation  ;  and  in  the  presence  of  the  members 
of  the  privy  council,  at  which  Taverna  had  delivered 
the  exculpatory  message  of  the  Duke,  he  sternly  as- 
serted that  he  was  able  to  produce  letters  which  would 
suffice  to  show  that  the  Duke  had  individually  recog- 
nised the  official  character  of  the  man  whom  he  had, 
in  defiance  of  the  law  of  nations,  subjected  to  an  igno- 
minious death.  This  declaration,  for  which  he  was 
wholly  unprepared,  startled  the  Milanese  Chancellor ; 
and  when  the  King  proceeded  to  inquire  how  it  was, 
if  the  Duke  his  master  had  indeed  recognised  in  Mara- 
viglia  only  a  simple  subject,  that  he  had  been  led  to 
violate  in  his  case  the  usual  forms  of  law ;  and,  instead 
of  affording  him  time  and  opportunity  to  refute  the 
accusations  brought  against  him,  or,  in  default  of  his 
being  able  to  do  this,  of  causing  him  publicly  to  suffer 
death  under  the  eyes  of  the  assembled  citizens  of  Milan, 
he  had  deprived  him  of  all  intercourse  with  the  friends 
by  whom  he  might  have  been  justified,  extorted  false 
accusations  from  his  servants  under  the  influence  of 
torture,  and  finally  executed  him  during  the  night 


72  Reign  of 

within  the  precincts  of  his  prison ;  the  embarrassed 
envoy,  although  esteemed  one  of  the  most  able  advo- 
cates of  his  day,  replied  falteringly,  that  the  arrange- 
ment had  originated  in  the  deep  respect  entertained 
by  the  Duke  towards  his  Majesty,  whom  he  was  un- 
willing to  expose  to  the  indignity  which  the  pubhc 
execution  of  one  of  his  recognised  agents  would  have 
appeared  to  sanction. 

"  Enough,"  said  Francis,  with  a  stern  gesture : 
"  Your  reply  is  a  sufficient  admission  that  the  official 
character  of  my  murdered  ambassador  was  fully  recog- 
nised by  the  Duke  of  Milan.  And  now.  Sir,  bear  to 
your  master  the  plain  assurance  that  if  he  do  not  afford 
to  me  the  satisfaction  which  I  shall  not  be  slow  in 
demanding,  I  shall  know  how  to  render  justice  to  my- 
self." 

As  the  reward  of  his  unmanly  and  treacherous  con- 
descension, the  Emperor  fulfilled  his  promise  to 
Sforza;  and  notwithstanding  the  weak  state  of  his 
health,  and  the  premature  decrepitude  which  compelled 
him  to  lean  upon  a  staff  throughout  the  whole  dura- 
tion of  the  nuptial  ceremony,  he  bestowed  on  him,  in 
April,  1534,  the  hand  of  his  niece  Christina.*  From 
the  period  of  his  marriage,  however,  Sforza  rapidly 
declined  until  he  became  totally  infirm,  and  on  the 
24th  of  October  in  the  following  year  he  died.  As  he 
was  the  last  representative  of  the  Sforza  family,  Don 
Antonio  da  Leyva  took  possession  of  the  duchy  in  the 
name  of  the  Emperor,  and  the  young  widow  returned 
to  Spain. 

•  The  Princess  Christina  was  the  daughter  of  the  Archduchess  Eliza- 
beth of  Austria,  and  of  Christiern  II.,  King  of  Denmark. 


Francis  I  73 

Meanwhile  Ferdinand,  King  of  the  Romans,  to 
whom  his  brother  Charles  V.  had  entrusted  the  gov- 
ernment of  Germany  during  his  own  sojourn  in  Italy 
and  Spain,  had  renewed  a  long-enduring  quarrel  with 
the  young  Christophe,  Duke  of  Wirtemberg ;  and  this 
Prince  applied  to  Francis  for  his  support  against  the 
aggressions  of  the  Emperor ;  representing  that  for  more 
than  seventeen  years  the  Duke  Ulric,  his  father,  had 
been  dispossessed  of  his  inheritance,  and  reminding 
him  that  by  his  marriage  with  the  Dowager-Queen  of 
Portugal,  the  sister  of  the  Emperor  and  the  King  of 
the  Romans,  who  had  taken  possession  of  his  duchy, 
he  had  the  honour  to  be  allied  to  his  Majesty  through 
the  Princess  Sabine,  his  mother,  who  was  the  niece  of 
Maximilian. 

Francis  at  first  refused  to  interfere  in  a  misunder- 
standing which  he  declared  to  be  more  personal  than 
political;  but  Martin  du  Bellay,  who  felt  a  lively  in- 
terest in  the  young  and  princely  applicant,  suffering 
as  he  was  from  a  spoliation  entailed  upon  him  by  an 
ancient  feud,  with  which  he  had  been  totally  uncon- 
nected, conceived  an  expedient  by  which  he  was  en- 
abled to  assist  him  without  compromising  his  sov- 
ereign ;  and  accordingly  agreed  to  lend  him  a  hundred 
thousand  crowns  on  the  security  of  the  county  of 
Montbelliard,  ostensibly  as  its  purchaser,  but  in  reality 
to  enable  him  to  pay  his  troops,  and  to  raise  new  levies. 
With  this  assistance,  and  the  aid  of  the  Protestant 
Princes,  whose  faith  he  had  openly  embraced,  the  Duke 
was  enabled  to  possess  himself  of  Lauffen ;  and  ulti- 
mately, with  little  delay,  to  make  himself  master  of  the 
duchy  of  Wirtemberg,  where  one  of  his  first  acts  of 
sovereignty  was  to  establish  the  reformed  religion. 


74  Reign  of 

Nevertheless,  the  war  in  Germany,  which  had  been 
considered  as  an  inevitable  result  of  these  events,  was 
still  delayed.  Ferdinand,  instead  of  resenting  a  de- 
feat which  he  must  have  keenly  felt,  availed  himself  of 
the  opportunity  to  enter  into  a  fresh  treaty  with  the 
league  of  Smalkalden ;  and  on  the  29th  of  June,  1534, 
the  peace  of  Nuremberg  was  confirmed. 

This  arrangement  was  not,  however,  yet  concluded 
when  the  Pope  commenced  his  journey  to  Marseilles; 
and  had  not  his  personal  ambition  been  involved  in  the 
interview  to  which  he  had  so  readily  acceded,  the  two 
events  here  detailed  were  calculated  to  render  it  of  a 
less  pacific  character  than  he  had  originally  anticipated. 
But  Clement  VII.  was  already  an  old  man,  and  still 
more  aged  by  infirmity  than  by  years.  His  ambition 
had  out-lasted  his  susceptibility,  and  in  the  advance- 
ment of  his  family  he  forgot  all  more  politic  considera- 
tions. He  was  aware  of  the  support  which  had  been 
afforded  to  the  Protestants  of  Germany  by  the  mon- 
arch with  whom  he  was  about  to  treat ;  he  had  been 
apprised  that  he  had  already  threatened  to  invade  Lom- 
bardy  in  order  to  avenge  the  death  of  Maraviglia ;  nor 
was  he  ignorant  of  the  close  alliance  which  Francis  had 
formed  with  Henry  VIII.,  and  which  threatened  the 
annihilation  of  the  Papal  supremacy;  but  he  cast  off 
these  memories  to  reflect  only  upon  the  brilliant  alli- 
ance which  had  been  offered  to  his  niece.  The  evil 
effects  likely  to  result  from  the  political  measures  of  the 
French  King  failed  to  turn  him  from  his  purpose,  they 
regarded  rather  his  successors  than  himself;  whereas 
the  marriage  of  Catherine  was  a  personal  triumph  with- 
in his  very  grasp,  and  almost  independent  of  the  future. 


Francis  I  75 

Under  the  influence  of  this  all-absorbing  passion 
Clement  VII.  accordingly  persisted  in  his  purpose, 
and  embarked  at  Pisa  for  Marseilles  on  the  4th  of 
October,  accompanied  by  a  fleet  of  French  galleys 
under  the  command  of  the  Due  d'Aubigny.  The  Duke 
himself  had,  however,  preceded  him  by  several  days, 
and  had  already  landed  with  Catherine  de'  Medici, 
whom  papal  etiquette  did  not  permit  to  travel  with 
her  uncle.  This  delicate  and  honourable  mission  had 
consequently  been  entrusted  to  the  Due  d'Aubigny, 
not  only  as  a  proof  of  the  personal  regard  and  confi- 
dence of  the  King,  but  also  because  that  noble  had 
married  her  maternal  aunt,  and  had  thus  become  her 
relative. 

The  arrival  of  the  Pontiff  in  the  port  was  announced 
by  the  discharge  of  three  hundred  cannon  from  the 
batteries,  and  the  salute  was  returned  by  the  guns  of 
the  vessels.  The  Marechal  de  Montmorenci  received 
him  on  his  landing,  and  conducted  him  in  a  costly  litter, 
surrounded  by  pages  and  men-at-arms,  to  the  splendid 
residence  which  had  been  prepared  for  him  in  one  of 
the  faubourgs ;  and  on  the  following  morning  he  made 
his  public  entry  into  the  city  with  great  pomp  and 
ceremony.  At  the  gate  he  was  met  by  all  the  ecclesi- 
astics of  the  diocese  headed  by  their  prelate ;  by  the 
Abbot  of  St.  Victor  and  his  community  ;  by  the  judicial 
authorities ;  by  the  great  nobles  who  had  been  assem- 
bled to  welcome  him  ;  and  he  was  immediately  followed 
by  the  King  himself,  who  had  arrived  at  Marseilles  only 
a  few  hours  previously,  by  the  Queen,  and  by  all  the 
principal  members  of  the  court.  The  houses  in  the 
streets  traversed  by  the  two  potentates  were  hung  with 


76  Reign  of 

tapestry  and  silks  of  gorgeous  colours,  and  the  pave- 
ment was  thickly  strewn  with  rich  autumnal  flowers 
and  branches  of  odoriferous  shrubs. 

Delighted  to  co-operate  with  her  royal  husband  in 
every  measure  likely  to  ensure  the  peace  of  Europe, 
and  equally  so  at  the  prospect  of  welcoming  to  her 
affection  a  new  friend  and  daughter,  the  reception  given 
by  Eleonora  to  the  beautiful  girl,  who,  on  descending 
from  her  litter  at  the  approach  of  the  royal  party, 
knelt  to  make  her  obeisance  to  her  future  stepmother, 
was  full  of  dignified  and  unaffected  kindness ;  and  she 
had  no  sooner,  on  withdrawing  her  hand  from  the  lips 
of  Catherine,  impressed  a  kiss  upon  her  brow,  than  she 
compelled  her  to  enter  her  own  litter,  and  thus  side  by 
side  they  proceeded  to  the  residence  which  had  been 
prepared  for  the  reception  of  the  Queen,  and  where  a 
suite  of  apartments  had  been  reserved  for  the  young 
Duchess  and  her  attendants. 

The  Pope  and  the  King  occupied  two  houses  di- 
rectly opposite  to  each  other,  and  of  the  same  dimen- 
sions, which  were  connected  by  a  temporary  gallery 
flung  across  the  street,  and  converted  into  a  magnifi- 
cent saloon  hung  with  tapestry  and  cloth  of  gold,  which 
afforded  them  private  access  to  each  other  at  all  hours. 

Nor  was  the  triumph  of  Clement  VII.  merely  a  pub- 
lic one ;  for  Francis  had  no  sooner  introduced  him 
into  the  splendid  hall  in  which  their  conferences  were 
to  be  held,  than,  notwithstanding  the  pledge  which  he 
had  given  to  Henry  VIII.,  that,  like  himself,  he  would 
never  again  recognize  in  the  person  of  the  Pope  any 
higher  dignity  than  that  of  Bishop  of  Rome,  he  humbly 
bent  the  knee  before  him,  and  kissed  in  succession  his 


Francis  I  77 

foot,  his  hand,  and  his  cheek  ;  after  which  he  presented 
to  him  his  eldest  son,  who  in  Hke  manner  knelt  and 
saluted  him.  The  Dauphin  was  replaced  in  his  turn 
by  the  two  younger  Princes,  who  kissed  his  feet  and  his 
hands  ;  and  they  were  followed  by  the  great  dignitaries 
of  the  court,  who  kissed  his  feet  only. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  ceremony  the  Bishop  of 
Paris  declared,  in  the  name  of  his  sovereign,  "  that  the 
very  Christian  King,  as  the  elder  son  of  the  Church, 
recognised  His  Holiness  in  all  humility  and  devotion 
as  the  Pontiff  and  true  Vicar  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ; 
revering  him  as  the  successor  of  St.  Peter,  and  offering 
him  obedience  and  fidelity ;  pledging  himself  with  all 
his  power  to  uphold  the  safety  of  His  Holiness  and  of 
the  holy  Apostolical  See,  as  all  his  predecessors  had 
done  before  him." 

It  had  been  originally  intended  that  this  address 
should  be  delivered  by  the  President  Poyer,  afterwards 
Chancellor  of  France ;  but  this  dignitary,  although 
recognised  as  the  most  eloquent  speaker  of  his  time, 
was  comparatively  ignorant  of  the  Latin  language, 
and  could  not  undertake  the  duty  until  by  close  study 
he  had  rendered  himself  able  to  repeat  the  discourse 
which  had  been  prepared  for  him.  As  it  was,  how- 
ever, necessary  to  ascertain  the  feeling  of  the  Pontiff 
with  regard  to  the  subjects  which  were  to  be  mooted 
in  this  public  address,  the  master  of  the  court  cere- 
monies waited  upon  him  for  instructions,  when  all  the 
preparatory  labour  of  the  unhappy  President  was  ren- 
dered useless  by  the  declaration  of  Clement  that  he  was 
anxious  to  avoid,  on  such  an  occasion,  every  allusion 
either  to  the  Emperor  or  any  other  Christian  Prince 


78  Reign  of 

which  might  be  construed  into  an  affront ;  and  that  he 
should  prefer  not  being  called  upon  to  listen  to  any 
save  a  purely  theological  oration. 

In  this  dilemma  Jean  du  Bellay,  Bishop  of  Paris, 
was  nominated  to  replace  him ;  which  he  did  upon  the 
instant  with  an  eloquence  and  ability  worthy  of  his 
reputation. 

A  splendid  banquet  was  then  served ;  after  which  the 
Pope  and  the  King  retired  to  confer  together  on  the 
various  subjects  of  importance  which  they  were  met 
to  discuss ;  and  during  their  interview  Francis  warmly 
urged  the  Pontiff  to  recognise  and  sanction  the  divorce 
of  Henry  VIII. ;  assuring  him  that  the  English  mon- 
arch was  actuated  only  by  motives  of  conscience  in 
seeking  to  repudiate  a  Princess  whose  conduct  alike  as 
a  wife  and  a  mother  had  been  irreproachable.  Clement, 
however,  refused  to  lend  himself  to  what  he  stigmatized 
as  an  act  of  tyranny  and  injustice ;  for,  satisfied  as  he 
was  that  he  had  secured  the  friendship  of  Francis,  he 
was  still  unwilling  to  incur  the  enmity  of  the  Emperor ; 
while  the  royal  intercessor,  on  his  side,  considered  it 
equally  inexpedient  to  inform  his  guest  that  he  had 
pledged  himself  to  the  English  monarch  not  to  consent 
to  the  marriage  of  his  son  with  Catherine  de*  Medici  un- 
til he  had  wrested  from  the  Pope  a  consent  to  his  own 
divorce.  From  this  diflficulty  Francis  was,  however, 
extricated  in  an  unexpected  manner,  for  in  an  audience 
granted  by  the  Pontiff  to  Bishop  Bonner,  who  had 
been  despatched  to  France  by  Henry  VIII.  for  that 
purpose,  the  prelate  boldly  announced  that  his  sov- 
ereign had  appealed  from  the  decision  of  His  Holiness 
to  that  of  the  general  council ;  upon  which  the  French 


Francis  I  79 

King,  rejoiced  to  be  emancipated  from  the  perform- 
ane  of  his  promise,  and  to  find  himself  relieved  from  a 
responsibility  by  which  his  personal  views  were  frus- 
trated, immediately  declared  that  he  could  not  sanction 
the  affront  which  had  been  offered  to  the  head  of  the 
Church  by  such  a  determination;  and  that,  although 
he  should  ever  regard  the  English  monarch  as  a 
brother,  he  could  not  uphold  him,  or  any  other  Prince, 
in  a  matter  which  involved  the  interests  of  the  religion 
that  he  professed. 

Thus  unexpectedly  liberated  from  his  engagement, 
Francis  found  himself  free  to  negotiate  the  prelimi- 
naries of  the  marriage  of  his  son  Henry,  Due  d'Orleans 
with  Catherine  de'  Medici,  which,  for  the  misfortune 
of  France,  was  finally  arranged  at  this  period;  the 
Printe  not  having  yet  attained  his  fifteenth  year,  and 
the  niece  of  the  Pope  being  his  junior  by  eighteen 
months.  The  apparent  dowry  of  the  bride  was  by  no 
means  a  splendid  one  to  bring  to  a  royal  house ;  for  it 
consisted  only  of  a  hundred  thousand  crowns,  and  the 
French  estates  which  she  inherited  from  her  mother, 
Madelaine  de  la  Tour  d'Auvergne,  which  were  of  about 
equal  value.  This  fact  furnished  abundant  amusement 
to  the  French  courtiers;  who,  little  foreseeing  the 
frightful  effects  which  were  to  result  from  this  ill- 
omened  alliance,  dwelt  only  upon  the  paucity  of  her 
portion,  and  the  extraordinary  infatuation  of  the  King, 
who  might  have  commanded  for  his  son  the  hand  of 
a  Princess  with  a  duchy  for  her  dowry.  Some  among 
them  even  went  so  far  as  to  express  to  sundry  of  the 
Papal  officers  their  astonishment  that  the  niece  of  a 
sovereign  Pontiff  should  possess  no  greater  fortune 


8o  Reign  of 

than  the  heiress  of  a  French  finance  minister;  but  they 
were  speedily  and  agreeably  silenced  by  Philippo 
Strozzi,  the  ambassador  of  Clement,  who,  in  reply  to 
a  remark  of  this  nature  said  with  a  quiet  smile,  "  You 
appear  to  forget,  gentlemen,  that  she  also  adds  to  the 
crown  of  France  three  jewels  of  inestimable  value; 
Genoa,  Milan,  and  Naples." 

The  Emperor  subsequently  heard  and  registered  this 
incautious  and  ill-judged  rejoinder;  but  even  before 
he  was  apprised  of  its  having  been  made,  he  had  be- 
come alarmed,  and  wrote  to  the  Pontiff  entreating  him 
not  to  consent  to  a  marriage  so  inimical  to  the  interests 
of  Italy ;  or,  in  the  event  of  his  persisting  in  the  alliance, 
urging  him  to  oblige  the  King  to  give  a  pledge  not  to 
make  any  fresh  attempts  upon  that  country ;  to  confirm 
the  treaties  of  Madrid  and  Cambray;  and  to  consent 
to  the  convocation  of  the  council.  Furthermore,  he 
exhorted  him  to  interfere  in  the  matter  of  the  English 
divorce,  representing  the  extent  of  the  injury  which 
was  meditated  against  his  own  aunt ;  but  Clement,  in 
reply,  declined  to  commit  himself  by  making  such  a 
promise,  declaring  that  the  French  King  had  done 
him  so  much  honour  by  offering  the  hand  of  his  second 
son  to  a  member  of  his  own  house,  that  he  was  not  in 
a  position  to  impose  conditions  upon  him ;  although 
he  was  ready  to  exert  all  his  influence  to  secure  the 
peace  of  Italy. 

With  this  answer  the  Emperor  was  compelled  to  rest 
satisfied ;  although  he  would  doubtlessly  have  used 
more  strenuous  arguments,  had  he  been  aware  that 
when  the  Due  d'Aubigny  had  been  commissioned  to 
negotiate  the  marriage,  the  exultation  of  the  Pope  was 


Francis  I  8i 

so  great,  that  in  addition  to  the  dowry  in  specie  to 
which  allusion  has  already  been  made,  he  agreed  to 
include  in  the  marriage  portion  of  his  niece  the  prov- 
inces of  Reggio,  Modena,  Rubeira,  Pisa,  Livorna, 
Parma,  and  Placenza ;  to  unite  his  own  army  with  that 
of  Francis  to  regain  for  her  the  duchy  of  Urbino, 
which  had  been  wrested  from  the  Medici  after  the 
death  of  Leo  X. ;  to  assist  him  in  the  recovery  of  the 
Milanese;  and,  finally,  to  unite  all  these  important 
territories  upon  the  heads  of  the  Due  d'Orleans  and 
his  bride.  Of  this  private  arrangement  Charles  was, 
however,  totally  ignorant ;  and  feeling  that  the  French 
King  must  have  had  some  powerful  motive  for  propos- 
ing so  disproportionate  an  alliance,  he  did  not  hesitate 
to  attribute  the  concession  to  a  projected  invasion  of 
the  Milanese. 

Presents  of  great  value  having  been  exchanged,  and 
the  necessary  preparations  completed,  the  marriage 
was  eventually  solemnized  by  the  Pope  himself,  on  the 
29th  of  October,  with  a  splendour  which  formed  a 
strong  contrast  to  the  hurried  and  undignified  cere- 
mony that  had  so  recently  made  the  gentle  Eleonora, 
Queen  of  France.  The  extreme  personal  beauty  of 
the  young  couple,  aged  respectively  fifteen  and  thir- 
teen years,  the  magnificence  of  their  apparel,  the 
sumptuousness  of  the  monarch,  his  Queen,  and  the 
united  courts,  the  ecclesiastical  pomp,  the  flashing  of 
jewels  under  the  glare  of  innumerable  tapers,  and  the 
presence  of  the  Supreme  Pontiff  himself,  all  tended  to 
render  this,  destined  to  be  a  fatal  day  to  France,  one 
of  the  greatest  brilliancy  and  gorgeousness. 

On  the  return  of  the  illustrious  bridal  party  to  the 
Vol.  III.- -6 


82  Francis  I 

temporary  palace  of  the  King,  whither  they  were  fol- 
lowed by  the  acclamations  of  the  populace,  who  ener- 
getically shouted  Noel  for  their  young  Prince  and  his 
fair  bride — whom  they  little  suspected  was  one  day 
fated  to  become  the  curse  of  the  nation  over  which 
she  was  called  to  rule — a  presentation  was  held  in  the 
hall  of  tapestry,  at  which  the  King  invested  four  of  the 
Papal  dignitaries  with  the  Order  of  St.  Michael ;  while 
Clement,  at  his  express  request,  created  four  new 
French  Cardinals,  among  whom  was  Odet  de  Chatil- 
lon,  the  nephew  of  Anne  de  Montmorenci,  who  had 
only  just  attained  his  thirteenth  year ;  and  who,  not- 
withstanding this  extraordinary  elevation,  subsequently 
embraced  the  reformed  religion. 

The  marriage  festivities  were  prolonged  until  the 
I2th  of  November;  when  the  Pope  and  his  suite,  hav- 
ing taken  leave  of  the  French  court,  departed  from 
Marseilles  for  Civita  Vecchia,  on  board  the  same  vessels 
by  which  they  had  been  conveyed  thither;  but  on  his 
arrival  in  that  port,  Clement  dismissed  the  Due  d'Au- 
bigny  and  his  fleet  with  a  profusion  of  both  gifts  and 
protestations,  and  on  the  6th  of  December  embarked 
in  the  galleys  of  Andrea  Doria,  who  was  still  in  the 
service  of  the  Emperor ;  a  stroke  of  policy  by  which  he 
hoped  to  disarm  the  jealousy  of  Charles. 

The  departure  of  the  Pontiff  from  the  city  was  fol- 
lowed by  that  of  the  King  and  Queen ;  and  in  the 
course  of  a  few  days  the  whole  of  the  royal  train  were 
on  their  way  to  Amboise,  and  Marseilles  was  once 
more  shorn  of  its  temporary  splendour. 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  Female  Court  of  Francis  I. — The  Queen  of  Navarre— 
Madame  do  Chateaubriand — Queen  Eleonora — TheDuchesse 
d'Etampes — Fleeting  Favouritism — Catherine  de'  Medici— 
The  King's  Household — Lax  Morality  of  the  Royal  Circle 
— The  Rival  Roues — Resignation  of  Queen  Eleonora — Mont- 
morenci  Conceives  a  Passion  for  the  Queen — He  Declares  it, 
and  is  Haughtily  Repulsed — An  Eccentric  Compact — Mirth 
of  the  Courtiers — Marriage  of  Henry  VHI.  and  Anna 
Boleyn — He  is  Excommunicated  by  the  Pope — Death  of 
Katherine  of  Aragon — Henry  VKI.  Persecutes  the  Roman- 
ists— Death  of  Clement  VH. — Accession  of  Paul  HI. — Fran- 
cis Re-organizes  His  Army — Charles  V.  Takes  Tunis — 
Francis  is  Accused  of  Maintaining  an  Intelligence  with  Soly- 
man — Barbarity  of  Francis  towards  the  Reformists — The 
Silver  Image — Frightful  Executions. 

TWO  years  only  had  elapsed  since  Francis  had  been 
emancipated  by  death  from  the  domination  of 
Louise  de  Savoie,  and  already  in  the  person  of  Cath- 
erine de'  Medici  a  new  power  had  arisen,  by  which 
he  was  to  be  equally  thralled.  Of  all  the  female  mem- 
bers of  his  family,  his  wives  alone  had  failed  to  influ- 
ence either  his  affections  or  his  actions.  Alike  gentle 
and  unambitious,  they  shrank  before  his  coldness,  and 
trembled  at  his  frown ;  while  women  of  meaner  rank, 
and  of  more  than  questionable  virtue,  braved  his  dis- 
pleasure, and  moulded  him  to  their  will.     In  the  Queen 

83 


84  Reign  of 

of  Navarre  he  had  recognised  at  once  a  companion  and 
a  friend ;  he  was  conscious  of  her  superiority  of  intel- 
lect, and  grateful  for  her  tenderness;  and  had  Mar- 
guerite exerted  the  power  which  she  really  possessed 
over  his  mind,  to  wean  him  from  those  habits  of  profli- 
gacy by  which  his  memory  is  disgraced,  instead  of 
treating  the  most  sacred  duties  with  disregard,  when 
by  such  a  concession  she  felt  that  she  was  ministering 
to  his  temporary  gratification,  it  is  probable  that  he 
would  have  become  more  estimable  both  as  a  monarch 
and  a  man.  But  the  daughter  of  Louise  de  Savoie  had 
been  reared  in  a  school  little  likely  to  render  her  a 
moral  monitress ;  and  the  author  of  the  Heptameron, 
or  "  all  the  naughty  tricks  played  by  women  on  the 
poor  men,"  as  she  describes  it  in  her  preface,  could 
scarcely  be  expected  to  afford  any  efficient  aid  in  the 
reformation  of  his  character.  Of  the  Duchesse  d'An- 
gouleme,  both  as  a  mother  and  as  a  guide,  we  have 
already  said  enough.  Of  the  influence  of  Madame  de 
Chateaubriand,  during  her  period  of  favour,  many 
baneful  eflfects  remained ;  although,  when  the  oppor- 
tunities of  evil  which  she  had  once  possessed  are  taken 
into  consideration,  even  her  career  may  be  deemed 
comparatively  harmless;  but  at  the  period  of  Cath- 
erine's advent  to  France,  the  full-blown  vices  of 
Madame  d'Etampes  were  the  marvel  and  the  anathema 
of  the  nation. 

The  Queen,  conscious  that  she  possessed  no  power 
sufficiently  great  to  counteract  that  of  the  favourite, 
had  ceased  even  to  strive  against  it ;  and  thus  the  only 
pure-hearted  woman  who  would  have  loved  him  for  his 
own  sake,  and  who  might  eventually  have  restored  him 


Francis  I  85 

to  a  more  fitting  sense  of  the  duties  which  he  owed 
alike  to  himself  and  to  society,  was  reduced  to  weep 
over  the  errors  that  she  was  unable  to  eradicate. 

We  pass  over,  for  obvious  reasons,  the  minor  influ- 
ences, each  perhaps  insignificant  in  itself,  but  in  the 
aggregate  fearfully  mischievous,  which  were  exercised 
by  the  fair  and  frail  maids  of  honour ;  each,  or  nearly 
each,  being  in  her  turn  the  "  Cynthia  of  the  minute ;  " 
and  more  than  one  of  whom  owed  her  temporary 
favour  to  the  Duchesse  d'Etarnpes  herself;  whose 
secret  intrigues  and  undisguised  ambition  absorbed 
more  of  her  time  than  could  have  been  left  at  her  dis- 
posal, had  she  not  provided  the  inconstant  but  never- 
theless exacting  monarch  with  some  new  object  of 
interest;  and  the  tact  with  which  she  selected  these 
facile  beauties  was  not  one  of  the  least  of  her  talents. 
Never,  upon  any  occasion,  did  she  direct  the  attention 
of  the  King  to  a  woman  whose  intellect  might  have 
secured  his  conquest  after  the  spell  of  her  beauty  had 
ceased  to  thrall  him  ;  the  young  and  the  lovely  were  her 
victims,  only  where  their  youth  and  their  loveliness 
were  their  sole  attractions.  She  was  ever  ready  to 
supply  her  royal  lover  with  a  new  mistress,  but  never 
with  a  friend,  a  companion,  or  a  counsellor ;  and  thus, 
as  she  had  rightly  foreseen,  the  French  Sardanapalus 
soon  became  sated  by  the  mere  prettiness  of  his  female 
satellites,  and  returned  to  his  allegiance  to  herself, 
wearied,  and  more  her  slave  than  ever. 

Such  was  the  state  of  the  court  in  which  the  Duchesse 
d'Orleans  was  called  to  assume  her  station  as  a  Prin- 
cess of  the  blood;  and,  mere  girl  as  she  was,  she  at 
once  appreciated  alike  the  difficulties  and  advantages 


86  Reign  of 

of  her  position.  A  King  whose  leading  passions  were 
dissipation  and  magnificence;  a  Queen  who  shrank  from 
pubHcity  of  all  kinds,  and  who  had  neither  inclination 
to  upbraid,  nor  energy  to  resist  injustice;  a  Dauphin 
staid  and  serious  beyond  his  years ;  a  powerful  and 
insolent  favourite ;  a  licentious  nobility ;  a  morose  and 
careless  husband; — such  were  the  elements  out  of 
which  she  had  to  construct  a  future  for  herself;  and 
Catherine  de'  Medici  did  not  fail  to  prove  herself 
worthy  of  the  name  she  bore. 

Nature  had  admirably  fitted  her  for  the  part  which 
she  was  about  to  enact.  De  Thou  describes  her  as  a 
woman  of "  immense  mind,  and  superb  magnificence ;  " 
while  Brantome  expatiates  with  more  voluptuousness 
than  delicacy  upon  her  personal  attractions,  and  her 
feminine  accomplishments ;  to  which,  however,  were 
superadded  the  masculine  attainments  of  riding,  play- 
ing at  tennis,  shooting  with  a  cross-bow,  and  boar- 
hunting. 

No  less  ambitious  and  intriguing  than  Louise  de 
Savoie,  Catherine,  even  from  the  very  period  of  her 
marriage,  possessed  a  power  of  dissimulation  which 
enabled  her  to  veil  her  vices  under  a  mask  of  fascina- 
tion that  few  were  able  to  resist ;  and  thus  she  became 
at  once  not  only  the  idol  of  the  whole  court,  but  also 
that  of  Francis  himself ;  and  it  soon  required  the  most 
finished  art  on  the  part  even  of  Madame  d'Etampes  to 
counteract  her  daily-increasing  influence. 

Although  a  girl  in  years,  Catherine  was  already  old 
in  heart ;  and  her  unexpected  elevation,  instead  of  sat- 
isfying, had  merely  served  to  excite  the  love  of  power 
and  domination  which  her  after-career  so  fatally  de- 


Francis  I  87 

veloped.  Haughty  and  imperious  in  spirit,  she  pos- 
sessed sufficient  command  over  not  only  her  words 
and  actions,  but  even  her  very  looks,  to  render  the  real 
sentiments  of  her  heart  subservient  to  her  ambition ; 
and  to  conceal  her  most  serious  designs  under  a  playful 
carelessness  of  manner,  by  which  those  who  sur- 
rounded her  were  duped  into  a  belief  that  she  was 
occupied  only  by  the  passing  pleasure  of  the  hour. 

Thus  constituted,  the  young  Princess  could  not  but 
prove  a  dangerous  rival,  even  to  the  astute  and  experi- 
enced Madame  d'Etampes ;  but  this  was  not  the  only 
peril  to  which  her  favour  was  at  that  moment  exposed. 
On  the  decease  of  Louis  de  Breze,  Grand  Senechal  of 
Normandy,  his  young  and  lovely  widow,  Diana  de 
Poitiers,  had  taken  up  her  residence  at  the  court,  where 
she  was  warmly  welcomed  by  the  King,  who  treated 
her  upon  all  occasions  with  a  marked  distinction  well 
calculated  to  arouse  the  apprehensions  of  the  jealous 
Duchess.  The  impression  produced  upon  the  heart, 
or  perhaps  more  properly  speaking  upon  the  fancy  of 
Francis,  by  the  extraordinary  personal  attractions  of 
la  Grande-Senechale  on  her  first  appearance  before 
him,  had  long  been  matter  of  notoriety ;  and,  as  the 
twelve  years  which  had  since  elapsed  had  only  tended 
to  change  the  lovely  and  graceful  girl  into  a  dignified 
and  dazzling  woman,  not  a  few  among  the  courtiers 
began  to  indulge  themselves  in  a  spirit  of  prophecy, 
little  calculated  to  flatter  the  vanity  of  the  reigning 
favourite.  Meanwhile  Catherine  de'  Medici  became 
ere  long  the  fast  friend  of  the  beautiful  young  widow ; 
and  thus  the  position  of  Madame  d'Etampes  was  ap- 
parently rendered  tenfold  more  precarious. 


88  Reign  of 

Such  was  the  circle  in  which  Francis  I.  passed  his 
leisure  moments;  and  they,  as  we  have  shown,  com- 
prised no  small  portion  of  his  entire  existence ;  while 
the  manner  in  which  his  household  was  constituted 
tended  rather  to  increase  than  to  diminish  the  per- 
nicious effects  of  such  an  association.  The  principal 
officers  of  whom  the  royal  household  had  formerly 
been  composed,  were  at  the  same  time  officers  of  the 
crown ;  great  nobles,  representing  the  highest  and  most 
ancient  families  in  the  kingdom ;  and  who  held  this 
dignity  as  an  hereditary  and  unalienable  right.  They 
possessed  authority  not  only  over  the  subordinates  in 
their  several  departments,  but  also  over  all  the  private 
citizens  who  were  in  the  employment  of  the  court ;  and 
were,  in  short,  while  fulfilling  their  duties  to  the  sov- 
ereign, in  the  position  of  feudal  barons,  their  service 
being  more  honourable  to  the  throne  than  agreeable 
to  the  monarch ;  the  tenacity  with  which  they  insisted 
upon  the  observance  of  their  privileges,  and  the  punc- 
tilious parade  with  which  they  performed  the  cere- 
monials of  their  several  offices,  rendering  them  more 
frequently  the  opponents  than  the  instruments  of  their 
royal  master's  will.  Francis,  as  it  may  be  readily 
imagined,  could  ill  brook  the  partial  subserviency  to 
which  he  was  reduced  by  such  a  system ;  and,  accord- 
ingly, he  confined  the  grand  officers  of  the  crown  to 
the  crown  itself;  and  formed  a  personal  household 
totally  distinct  from  these  dignitaries ;  selecting  for  that 
purpose  such  of  the  nobles  and  courtiers  as  he  con- 
sidered the  most  calculated  to  contribute  to  the  mag- 
nificence and  brilliancy  of  his  own  circle. 

This  arrangement  revolutionized  the  whole  court; 


Francis  I  89 

neither  birth  nor  extent  of  territory  any  longer  en- 
sured to  its  possessor  the  right  of  attendance  upon  the 
person  of  the  sovereign.  Wealth  failed  where  wit  tri- 
umphed; the  uncle  of  the  favourite  became  Grand 
Almoner  of  France  ;  and  the  minor  appointments  were 
made  upon  the  same  principle.  Younger  brothers, 
who,  under  a  different  reign,  would  have  despaired  of 
figuring  in  the  immediate  circles  of  royalty,  saw  their 
elders  compelled  to  yield  to  their  better  fortune ;  and 
obscure  abbes,  celebrated  for  their  gallantry,  or  patron- 
ised by  a  frail  beauty,  found  themselves  on  a  level  with 
mitred  bishops  and  lordly  abbots.  In  a  court  so  con- 
stituted, it  is  not  wonderful  that  every  species  of 
amusement,  splendour,  and  profligacy,  soon  abounded  ; 
the  haughtiest  of  the  nobility  devoured  their  mortifica- 
tion, and  laid  aside  their  morgue,  in  order  to  obtain  an 
entrance  within  the  magic  circle ;  while  even  the 
church  dignitaries  did  not  disdain  to  follow  their  ex- 
ample. Ambition  as  well  as  inclination  led  to  this 
result ;  for  it  soon  became  apparent  that  court  favour 
was  the  only  avenue  to  personal  advancement,  and  thus 
prelates  of  the  highest  rank  soon  taught  themselves  to 
participate  in  frivolous  and  degrading  pursuits,  ill 
suited  aUke  to  their  sacred  calling,  or  to  the  example 
which  they  were  bound  to  offer  to  the  laity. 

And  in  the  midst  of  this  vain,  and  eager,  and  volupt- 
uous throng  of  sycophantic  courtiers,  who  acknowl- 
edged no  law  save  the  will  of  the  monarch,  and  no 
religion  save  his  pleasure,  were  congregated  the  most 
noble  and  the  most  beautiful  women  of  whom  France 
could  boast.  The  circle  of  the  Queen  had  been  formed 
from  that  of  Louise  de  Savoie ;  the  court  of  Marguerite 


90  Reign  of 

de  Navarre,  during  her  frequent  visits  to  her  royal 
brother,  was  comprised  of  wit,  fascination,  and  gal- 
lantry; Catherine  de'  Medici  had  been  followed  to 
France  by  a  train  of  ladies  equally  attractive  and 
equally  facile;  and  thus  it  will  cease  to  be  subject  of 
surprise,  that  ere  long  purity  and  virtue  were  not  only 
disregarded,  but  even  made  the  common  theme  of 
sarcasm  and  contempt. 

We  dare  not  comment  upon  this  frightful  feature  of 
the  reign  of  Francis  I. ;  but  as  faithful  chroniclers  we 
are  compelled  to  record,  that  while  the  highest  honours 
of  profligacy  were  unanimously  awarded  to  the  King 
himself,  the  second  were  conceded  to  the  Cardinal  of 
Loraine,*  one  of  the  first  prelates  of  the  kingdom. 

Turn  we  rather  to  the  one  fair  oasis  in  this  desert 
of  corruption — to  the  pure  if  not  peaceful  solitude  of 
the  forsaken  Queen.  On  one  at  least  of  the  giddy 
throng  by  whom  Francis  was  surrounded,  the  meek 
but  dignified  resignation  of  Eleonora  had  made  a  pro- 
found impression ;  and  that  one  was  the  Marechal  de 
Montmorenci.  High  in  the  favour  of  the  King,  and 
as  upright  as  he  was  brave,  the  godson  of  Anne  de 
Bretagne  could  not,  nevertheless,  contemplate  the  un- 
happy position  of  the  Queen  without  experiencing  a 
deep  interest  in  her  fate,  which  soon  grew  into  a  warmer 
feeling.  He  knew  the  pride  of  her  Spanish  spirit,  and 
he  was,  consequently,  well  aware  of  the  daily  and 

•  Charles,  Cardinal  de  Lorraine,  was  the  younger  brother  of  Francois, 
Due  de  Guise,  who  was  shot  at  the  siege  of  Orleans,  in  1563,  by  Poltrot 
de  Mere,  after  having  obtained  the  reputation  of  being  the  ablest  sol- 
dier of  his  time,  and  the  appointment  of  Lieutenant-General  of  the  king- 
dom. Charles  de  Guise,  Cardinal  de  Lorraine,  more  celebrated  for  his 
dissipation  than  his  sanctity,  and  accounted  one  of  the  handsomest  nobles 
in  France,  became  Finance  Minister  under  Francis  II. 


Francis  I  91 

hourly  struggle  to  which  she  was  condemned;  and 
although  he  had  hitherto  remained  insensible  to 
the  blandishments  of  beauty  and  the  fascinations  of 
coquetry,  he  suffered  himself  to  be  betrayed  into  a 
passion  for  the  wife  of  his  sovereign.  Conscious,  how- 
ever, of  the  enormity  of  his  error,  he  strove  for  many 
months  to  conceal  from  Eleonora  the  state  of  his  af- 
fections ;  while  she,  utterly  unsuspicious  of  the  feeling 
which  she  had  elicited  in  the  breast  of  the  stern  soldier, 
continued  to  welcome  him  to  her  presence  with  a 
warmth  and  kindness  which  only  tended  to  increase  the 
evil.  It  was  under  his  protection  that  she  had  entered 
France ;  he  had  known  her  in  her  own  sunny  Spain, 
where  she  was  honoured  and  happy;  she  could  con- 
verse with  him  upon  the  past,  and,  for  a  time  at  least, 
forget  the  present.  He  alone  cared  to  remember  that 
she  was  neglected  and  desolate ;  no  wonder,  therefore, 
that  even  in  her  most  melancholy  moments  she  had 
ever  a  smile  and  a  gentle  greeting  for  the  gallant 
marshal. 

The  moment  came  at  last,  however,  in  which  Mont- 
morenci  could  no  longer  maintain  his  self-command. 
The  court  were  hunting  in  the  woods  of  Chambord. 
The  Queen  of  Navarre,  and  Catherine  de'  Medici,  had 
followed  in  the  train  of  the  King;  the  blue  litter  of 
Madame  d'Etampes  had  passed  the  gates,  and  pro- 
ceeded apparently  in  the  same  direction ;  and  the  palace 
of  Amboise  was  deserted  by  all  save  Eleonora  and  the 
Marechal,  who,  on  a  pretext  of  indisposition,  had  been 
permitted  to  absent  himself  from  the  royal  sport. 

The  wife  of  Francis  I.  was  seated  at  an  open  case- 
ment overlooking  the  bright  current  of  the  Loire.    Her 


92  Reign  of 

head  rested  upon  her  hand,  and  an  expression  of  acute 
suffering  was  visible  on  her  fine  features ;  but  her  eyes 
were  tearless  as  they  followed  unconsciously  the 
course  of  the  sparkling  ripples  upon  which  they  lin- 
gered. She  started,  however,  from  her  reverie  when 
Montmorenci  was  announced,  and  extended  towards 
him  her  hand,  which  he  raised  respectfully  to  his  lips. 

"  You  here,  M.  le  Marechal !  "  she  exclaimed  with 
undisguised  astonishment ;  "  I  heard  that  the  whole 
court  were  at  Chambord." 

"  Your  Majesty  is  at  Amboise,"  was  the  abrupt 
reply. 

"  True,"  said  the  poor  Queen,  forcing  a  smile ; "  I,  as 
you  are  aware,  am  unequal  to  such  an  exertion  either 
of  strength  or  skill  as  that  of  a  royal  hunt.  But  you. 
Monsieur  ?  Can  it  be  that  you  have  lost  taste  for  this 
courtly  diversion?  or,  what  I  should  much  more  de- 
plore, that  the  King — " 

"  No,  Madame,  no,"  interposed  Montmorenci ;  "  his 
Majesty  did  not  decline  my  attendance ;  and  I  am  as 
keen  a  sportsman  as  even  your  august  husband  him- 
self; but,  nevertheless,  I  have  not  followed  the  hunt." 

"  And  wherefore  ?  "  demanded  Eleonora  absently,  as 
she  passed  her  hand  across  her  brow,  and  endeavoured 
to  arouse  herself  more  thoroughly  from  her  reverie. 

"  I  will  tell  you,  Madame,"  said  the  Marechal,  with 
an  unsteady  voice,  as  he  fixed  his  eyes  earnestly  upon 
her ;  "  because  your  unhappiness  is  destroying  my 
existence — because  you  are  at  once  the  most  admirable 
and  the  most  ill-used  of  your  sex — because — ay,  wither 
me  if  you  will,  Madame,  with  your  frown,  but  I  have 
already  suffered  for  months,  and  I  must  now  speak  or 


Francis  I  93 

die — because  I  love  you,  and  would  rather  expire  here, 
at  your  feet,  than  live  on  longer  in  the  same  torment." 

"  Do  you  know  to  whom  you  speak,  sir  ?  "  asked  the 
Queen,  rising  from  her  seat  as  the  Marechal  sank  on 
his  knee  before  her.  "  Can  you,  too — you — have  for- 
gotten that  I  am  the  Queen  of  France,  the  wife  of  your 
sovereign  ? " 

"That  you  are  Queen  of  France  may  the  saints 
be  praised !  "  murmured  Montmorenci ;  "  that  you  are 
the  wife  of  Francis,  I  live  only  to  deplore." 

"  Sir,"  said  Eleonora  haughtily,  as  she  seized  the 
small  rattle  of  polished  steel,  which  was  at  that  period 
the  substitute  for  a  bell,  and  which  lay  on  a  table  at  her 
side,  "  will  you  compel  me  to  summon  my  attendants, 
and  to  dishonour  you?  Do  you  seek  to  dishonour 
mef  " 

"  Heaven  forbid,  Madame,"  said  the  Marechal,  ris- 
ing from  the  floor ;  "  I  have  already  sinned  more  than 
enough.  That  I  love  you  is  my  misfortune ;  do  not 
make  it  my  crime.  I  will  deserve  your  forbearance. 
Neither  commands  nor  threats  can  compel  me  to  do 
otherwise  than  regard  you  as  the  most  perfect  of  your 
sex.  Say  or  do  what  you  will,  that  fact  must  remain 
unaltered ;  but  I  will  never  again  intrude  it  upon  you. 
Grant  me  only  one  favour,  and  I  am  yours  in  life  and 
death." 

"  And  that  favour,  sir?  " 

"  Is  simple  enough,  your  Majesty.  Only  allow  me, 
whenever  I  have  the  honour  to  approach  your  person, 
to  pronounce  the  words  '  Good  morrow,  Madame,'  that 
when  they  meet  your  ear  they  made  remind  you  of  the 
humble  and  obedient  lover,  whom  even  your  contempt 
could  not  alienate." 


94  Reign  of 

"  So  be  it,  M.  le  Marechal,"  said  the  Queen,  striving 
to  suppress  the  smile  elicited  by  so  extraordinary  a 
request ;  "  thus  much  I  may  in  honour  concede ;  but  I 
rely  on  your  good  faith." 

"  Nor  shall  you  repent  the  trust,  Madame,"  was  the 
reply  of  the  supplicant,  as  he  made  his  parting  saluta- 
tion ;  "  but  should  you  ever  want  a  hand  to  support,  or 
an  arm  to  avenge  you,  remember  Montmorenci." 

In  another  instant  the  Marechal  had  disappeared ; 
and  while  the  brilliant  train  which  followed  Francis 
through  the  woods  of  Chambord  filled  the  echoes  of 
the  forest-paths  with  the  clamours  of  their  joyous  rev- 
elry, his  deserted  wife  flung  herself  back  upon  her  seat ; 
and,  with  her  face  buried  in  her  hands,  wept  the  hot 
tears  of  mortification,  wounded  pride,  and  that  un- 
utterable anguish  which  not  even  tears  can  solace. 

Montmorenci  religiously  adhered  to  the  compact 
into  which  he  had  voluntarily  entered ;  and  from 
thenceforward  never  omitted,  while  respectfully  per- 
forming his  obeisance  to  the  Queen,  to  say,  in  a  slow 
and  melancholy  tone,  "  Good  morrow,  Madame," 
without  on  any  occasion  adding  a  single  word  of  hom- 
age or  of  compliment.  This  peculiarity  soon  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  court,  to  whom  the  "  audiences  " 
of  M.  de  Montmorenci  became  a  perpetual  source  of 
curiosity  and  amusement;  but  neither  the  sneers  of 
some,  nor  the  smiles  of  all,  disturbed  for  a  moment 
the  gravity  of  the  Marechal ;  although  at  times  even 
the  lip  of  Eleonora  herself  quivered  with  a  transient 
expression  of  mirth. 

It  is  certain,  moreover,  that  the  self-command  and 
good  faith  of  her  eccentric  admirer  made  a  gradual 


Francis  I  95 

impression  upon  the  feelings  of  the  Queen ;  her 
womanly  vanity  was  flattered,  and  her  gratitude  ex- 
cited by  a  constancy  of  devotion  to  which  she  had 
long  "been  unaccustomed ;  and  whereas  she  originally 
replied  to  his  address  only  by  a  grave  bow,  she  ere  long 
relented  so  far  as  to  repay  his  perseverance  by  a  more 
gracious  gesture ;  although  she  still  received  his  greet- 
ing with  dignified  reserve. 

The  marriage  of  Henry  VIII.  with  Anna  Boleyn  had 
meanwhile  taken  place,  despite  the  refusal  of  the  Pope 
to  recognise  the  divorce  of  Katherine ;  and  although 
it  had  been  solemnized  in  the  presence  of  not  more 
than  half  a  dozen  witnesses,  the  fact  soon  transpired, 
and  excited  the  indignation  of  both  the  Pontiff  and 
the  Emperor  to  so  high  a  degree,  that  despite  the 
entreaties  of  Francis,  who  earnestly  endeavoured  to 
avert  such  a  calamity,  sentence  of  excommunication 
was  fulminated  against  the  English  monarch.  This 
extreme  step  had  only  been  taken  a  couple  of  days, 
when  a  courier  arrived  in  Rome,  empowered  by  Henry 
to  declare  his  willingness  to  abide  the  judgment  of  the 
Holy  See  for  his  disobedience,  provided  that  certain 
of  the  Cardinals,  who  were  inimical  to  him,  should  not 
be  included  in  the  council.  It  was,  however,  too  late. 
The  Pope  had  suffered  his  passion  to  betray  him  into  a 
precipitation  as  unwise  as  it  was  irremediable  ;  and  the 
English  King  was  no  sooner  informed  that  the  walls  of 
the  Eternal  City  were  placarded  with  the  bull  which 
had  been  fulminated  against  him,  than  he  openly 
avowed  himself  as  the  head  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
and  declared  both  himself  and  his  kingdom  inde- 
pendent of  all  Papal  interference  or  control. 


96  Reign  of 

The  unfortunate  Katherine  of  Aragon  expired  in 
the  January  of  1534,  an  event  which  rendered  the  im- 
poHtic  haste  of  Clement  still  more  conspicuous ;  and 
there  is  little  doubt  that  the  annoyance  and  regret  to 
which  he  was  subjected  by  a  consciousness  of  the 
serious  error  into  which  he  had  been  betrayed,  and  the 
perpetual  remorse  induced  b)^  the  reports  that  reached 
him  of  the  virulence  to  which  Henry,  in  order  to 
avenge  the  insult  offered  to  his  own  dignity,  was  per- 
secuting the  Romanists  in  England,  accelerated  his 
own  end.  He  died  on  the  24th  of  September  in  the 
same  year,  and  was  succeeded  by  Alessandro  Farnese, 
who  assumed  the  title  of  Paul  HI.* 

A  short  time  subsequently,  the  Comte  de  Nassau, 
with  his  son  the  Prince  of  Orange,  visited  the  French 
court  on  their  way  from  Spain  into  Flanders,  and  were 
entrusted  by  Charles  V.  with  proposals  of  friendship 
and  alliance,  in  which  he  represented  to  Francis  the 
importance  of  a  perfect  understanding  between  the  two 
most  powerful  monarchs  of  Christendom ;  who,  were 
they  to  combine  their  strength  and  their  resources  with 
mutual  faith  and  good-will,  might  defy  and  control  the 
whole  of  Europe.  In  order,  as  he  moreover  asserted, 
to  prove  his  own  sincerity  in  this  belief,  he  offered  the 
hand  of  one  of  his  nieces  to  the  Dauphin,  and  that  of 
his  son  to  a  Princess  of  France ;  and,  in  return  for  his 
thus  taking  the  initiative,  he  requested  that  the  French 
King,  should  he  decline  this  double  alliance,  would  at 

*  Pope  Paul  III.  (Alessandro  Farnese)  was  a  native  of  Rome,  Bishop 
of  Ostia,  and  Dean  of  the  Holy  College.  When  unanimously  elected  by 
the  Conclave,  he  had  already  attained  his  sixty-eighth  year.  He  had, 
previously  to  entering  into  holy  orders,  become  the  father  of  two  chil- 
dren: a  daughter  who  married  Bosio  Sforza,  and  a  son,  Pietro  Luigi 
Farnese,  whom  he  made  Duke  of  Parma. 


Francis  I  97 

least  abstain  from  invading  his  territories  during  his 
absence  on  a  campaign  against  the  Infidels  which  he 
was  about  to  undertake ;  but  the  moment  was  an  un- 
propitious  one  for  the  success  of  such  a  negotiation. 

The  death  of  Clement  VII.  was  a  severe  blow  to  the 
previsions  of  Francis,  who  had  depended  upon  the 
exertions  of  the  Medici  to  insure  to  the  Due  d'Orleans  a 
powerful  sovereignty  in  Lombardy.  The  late  peace, 
brief  as  it  was,  had  nevertheless  sufficed  to  weary  him 
of  inaction.  The  treaty  of  Cambray  was  an  undying 
source  of  irritation ;  the  nation  was  relieved  from  civil 
discord,  and  had  ceased  to  oppose  the  system  of  taxa- 
tion which  he  had  introduced;  the  bequest  of  his 
mother,  and  the  public  revenues,  had  once  more  replen- 
ished his  treasury ;  he  was  surrounded  by  a  young  and 
impetuous  nobility,  eager  for  adventure  and  distinction, 
and  looking  back  restlessly  upon  their  past  successes ; 
he  believed  himself  secure  of  the  alliance  of  Henry 
VIII.  in  whose  cause  he  had  so  strenuously  exerted  his 
influence  with  the  late  Pope ;  and  who  had,  by  his  re- 
pudiation of  Katherine  of  Aragon,  so  exasperated  the 
Emperor,  that  he  was  anticipating  a  descent  of  the 
imperialists  upon  England;  and  he  calculated,  more- 
over, that  he  could  rely  not  only  upon  the  assistance 
of  the  Protestant  Princes,  in  the  event  of  his  engaging 
in  a  new  war,  but  also  upon  that  of  the  Sultan. 

No  wonder  then  that,  eager  at  once  for  excitement 
and  revenge,  Francis  soon  found  a  pretext  for  the  re- 
newal of  hostilities  against  his  old  rival.  He  accord- 
ingly busied  himself  in  the  re-organization  of  his  army  ; 
and  formed  a  militia  Upon  the  model  of  the  ancient 
Roman  legions,  which  was  composed  entirely  of  his 
Vol..  III.— 7 


98  Reign  of 

own  subjects,  and  in  which  no  individual  of  either  the 
German  or  Swiss  troops  who  were  in  his  pay  was  per- 
mitted to  serve.  This  force  amounted  to  forty-two 
thousand  men ;  and  in  May,  1534,  he  made  a  progress 
through  the  seven  provinces,  each  of  which  had  sup- 
pHed  its  quota  of  six  thousand  troops,  accompanied 
by  his  whole  court,  and  passed  the  several  legions 
successively  in  review. 

Charles  V.  was  meanwhile  actively  engaged  against 
the  pirates  of  Africa ;  his  success  was  signal ;  and  in 
little  more  than  two  months  he  had  landed  in  that 
country,  defeated  Barbarossa  before  Tunis,  reinstated 
Muley  Hassan,  taken  possession  of  all  the  seaports  of 
Barbary,  and  released  upwards  of  twenty  thousand 
Christian  slaves,  whom  he  conveyed  to  their  several 
countries  to  bless  and  extol  the  name  of  their  deliverer. 

All  Christendom  rang  with  the  praises  of  the  Em- 
peror. To  every  nation  in  Europe  he  had  restored 
some  of  its  lost  subjects;  and  the  voice  of  gratitude 
was  loud  on  every  side ;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  the 
intelligence  which  the  French  King  was  known  to 
maintain  with  the  Infidels,  had  excited  universal  in- 
dignation and  distrust.  In  vain  did  Francis  deny  the 
accusation,  and  denounce  the  Emperor  as  his  enemy 
for  having  suffered  it  to  gain  credence.  It  was  known 
that  Solyman  had  secret  agents  at  his  court ;  he  felt  that 
his  reputation  was  shaken  throughout  the  whole  Chris- 
tian world,  and  he  was  conscious  that  he  dare  not 
attempt  to  attack  the  power  of  Charles  while  he  was 
engaged  in  protecting  religion  and  humanity  from  the 
barbarity  of  the  Moslem. 

But  the  year  1534  was,  nevertheless,  not  fated  to 


Francis  I  99 

terminate  without  its  own  peculiar  tragedy.  Alarmed 
by  the  evil  feeling  which  existed  against  him,  Francis 
pursued  with  redoubled  animosity  the  professors  of 
Protestantism  within  his  own  kingdom.  The  tenets 
of  Calvin  were  already  beginning  to  rival  those  of 
Luther,  and  were  promulgated  throughout  France  and 
the  Low  Countries  by  his  disciples ;  placards,  denying 
the  truth  of  the  doctrine  of  transubstantiation,  were 
scattered  in  the  streets,  and  even  pasted  upon  the  walls 
of  the  Louvre ;  and  the  King  eagerly  availed  himself 
of  this  circumstance  to  regain  the  influence  which  he 
had  lost  over  Papal  Europe. 

He  first  instituted  a  rigid  search  for  the  authors  of 
these  obnoxious  documents,  and  his  agents  succeeded 
in  discovering  six  individuals  who  were  declared  to  be 
implicated  in  the  crime.  He  then  instructed  Jean  du 
Bellay,  the  Bishop  of  Paris,  to  order  a  solemn  proces- 
sion, in  public  reparation  of  the  insult  which  had  been 
ofifered  to  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament  of  the  Church; 
and  not  only  travelled  from  Blois  to  Paris  to  assist  at 
it  in  person,  but  was  also  accompanied  by  the  Queen 
and  his  three  sons.  The  procession  proceeded  from 
the  Church  of  St.  Germain  I'Auxerrois  to  the  Cathedral 
of  Notre  Dame ;  and  the  Eucharist  was  borne  by  the 
Bishop  attired  in  full  pontificals,  attended  by  a  number 
of  priests  laden  with  relics.  The  King  followed,  with 
a  lighted  taper  in  his  hand ;  the  three  Princes  and  the 
Due  de  Vendome  supported  the  canopy;  and  all  the 
foreign  ambassadors,  cardinals,  prelates,  and  nobility 
then  resident  in  the  capital,  closed  the  cortege.  Nor 
did  the  King  satisfy  himself  with  this  tacit  demonstra- 
tion of  devotion ;  for,  before  the  ceremonial  was  at  an 


loo  Reign  of 

end,  he  publicly  declared  that,  if  his  right  arm  were 
infected  with  the  cancer  of  the  new  heresy,  he  would 
with  his  left  hand  lop  it  from  his  body ;  and  that,  in  like 
case,  he  would  not  spare  his  own  children. 

Our  next  paragraph  we  must  transcribe  verbatim  et 
literatim  from  Le  Pere  Daniel,  for  we  should  be  unable 
to  find  words  of  our  own  in  which  to  record  so  horrible 
a  butchery. 

"  The  evening  of  the  same  day,  the  six  culprits  were 
conveyed  to  the  public  square,  where  fires  had  been 
prepared  to  burn  them.  There  was,  in  the  centre  of 
each  pyre,  a  sort  of  tall  pulley,  to  which  they  were  at- 
tached; the  flames  were  then  lighted  beneath  them, 
and  the  executioners,  gently  loosening  the  cord,  al- 
lowed these  wretches  to  descend  sufficiently  near  to 
the  fire  for  them  to  feel  all  its  agony ;  then  they  were 
once  more  hoisted  up;  and  after  having  made  them 
suffer  this  cruel  torment  several  times,  they  were  flung 
into  the  midst  of  the  flames,  where  they  expired." 

Sismondi  (quoting  from  Jo.  Sleidani)  gives  a  some- 
what different,  although  equally  terrible,  description 
of  the  instrument  of  torture.  He  says,  speaking  of  the 
victims :  "  Had  the  people  torn  them  to  pieces,  they 
would  have  shown  them  mercy;  their  ferocity  would 
not  have  equalled  that  of  the  King.  He  had  com- 
manded that  these  unfortunates  should  be  attached  to 
a  lofty  machine ;  which  was  a  beam  so  nicely  balanced 
that,  as  it  descended,  it  plunged  them  into  the  blaze  of 
the  pyre,  but  rose  again  almost  instantly,  in  order  to 
prolong  their  sufferings,  until,  the  flame  seizing  upon 
the  cords  by  which  they  were  bound,  they  fell  into  the 
middle  of  the  fire." 


Francis  I  loi 

"  Six,"  says  Mezeray,  "  were  burnt  at  Paris,  and 
more  than  twice  as  many  in  several  other  places ;  but 
for  two  who  were  put  to  death,  a  hundred  others  rose 
from  their  ashes." 

God  be  praised  that  it  was  so !  For  such  enormities, 
perpetrated  by  such  agents — a  profligate  King,  a  licen- 
tious prelacy,  a  venal  and  corrupted  court — were  as- 
suredly more  than  enough  to  turn  the  hearts  of  the 
right-minded  and  the  prayerful  from  a  faith  in  which 
as  there  was  no  mercy,  so  also  there  could  be  no  hope. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  Persecution  of  the  Protestants  is  Continued — Francis 
Abolishes  Printing  Throughout  His  Kingdom — The  League 
of  Smalkalden  Declares  against  the  French  King — Francis 
Invites  Melancthon  to  France — Francis  Declares  War 
against  the  Duke  of  Savoy — Chabot  Overruns  the  Duchy — 
The  Duke  Urges  the  Emperor  to  Assist  Him — Death  of 
Sforza — Charles  V.  Restores  Alessandro  de'  Medici  to  the 
Sovereignty  of  Florence — Death  of  the  Chancellor  Duprat — 
The  Queen  of  Navarre  at  Amboise — Ostentation  and  Proflig- 
acy of  Madame  d'Etampes — The  Tournament — A  Street 
Brawl — Narrow  Escape  of  the  Due  d'Angouleme — Removal 
of  the  Court  to  Chambord — The  King  and  Diana  of  Poitiers 
— A  Moral  Mission — Diana  Resolves  to  Attempt  the  Con- 
quest of  the  Due  d'Orleans — Her  Personal  Attractions — 
Her  Ambition — A  Poem  of  the  Sixteenth  Century — Jealousy 
of  the  Duchesse  d'Etampes — She  Demands  the  Exile  of  Diana 
from  the  Court — Charles  V.  Offers  to  Concede  the  Duchy 
of  Milan  to  the  Due  d'Angouleme — Francis  Demands  it 
for  the  Due  d'Orleans — Tergiversation  of  the  Emperor — 
Charles  V.  Renews  His  Alliance  with  the  Venetians — The 
Negotiation  Concerning  the  Milanese  is  Renewed — The  Em- 
peror Proceeds  to  Rome — The  French  Ambassador  Urges 
Him  to  Perform  His  Promises — Charles  V.  Harangues  the 
Conclave,  and  Insults  Francis — He  Temporizes  with  the 
French  Ambassadors  —  The  Pope  Endeavours  to  Pacify 
Them — The  Address  to  the  Conclave  is  Garbled  and  For- 
warded to  France — Moderation  of  Francis — The  Cardinal 
de  Lorraine  is  Despatched  to  the  Emperor  to  Terminate  the 


Francis  I  103 

Affair  of  the  Milanese,  and  Fails — Imperial  Superstition — 
Treason  of  the  Marquis  do  Saluzzo — The  Pope  Declares  His 
Neutrality — Charles  V.  Excites  the  German  Protestants 
against  Francis — The  Army  in  Savoy  is  Disarmed — Mont- 
morenci  Insures  the  Safety  of  the  Frontier— Francis  Pro- 
ceeds to  Lyons — Charles  V.  Declares  Himself  Suzerain  of 
Provence — Francis  Prepares  for  an  Invasion. 

THE  year  1535  commenced  by  a  new  persecution 
of  the  Reformists.  By  order  of  the  King,  all 
those  who  had  been  arrested  were  put  upon  their  trial, 
and  many  of  them  perished  by  the  swinging  beam 
described  in  the  last  chapter. 

Francis  was  desirous  to  make  his  peace  with  the 
Church ;  and  notwithstanding  the  ambition  which  he 
still  retained  to  be  considered  as  the  protector  of  letters, 
he  was  no  sooner  accused  by  Beda  of  favouring  the 
new  faith  in  compliance  with  the  entreaties  of  his  sister, 
than,  after  having,  in  the  first  burst  of  his  indignation, 
caused  him  to  be  arrested,  and  imprisoned  in  the  eccle- 
siastical dungeons,  he  condemned  him  to  make  the 
amende  honorable  before  the  Church  of  Notre  Dame, 
and  to  avow  that  he  had  spoken  against  the  truth  and 
the  King.  He,  however,  subsequently  became  alarmed 
lest  this  act  of  severity  might  fail  to  remove  the  im- 
pression produced  upon  the  minds  of  those  before 
whom  Beda  had  asserted  his  heresy ;  and  availing  him- 
self of  the  circumstance  of  the  placards,  to  which  we 
have  alluded  above,  he — the  proposed  founder  of  the 
royal  college,  the  correspondent  of  Erasmus,  and  the 
successor  of  Louis  XH. — issued  letters  patent  abolish- 
ing the  use  of  the  press,  and  forbidding  the  printing 
of  any  book,  be  it  what  it  might,  within  the  confines  of 


I04  Reign  of 

the  kingdom  of  France,  upon  pain  of  death!  This 
retrogressive  measure  paralysed,  as  a  natural  conse- 
quence, the  energies  of  all  the  learned  men  who  had 
sought  his  court  as  an  assured  asylum ;  and  it  also 
produced  another  and  very  fatal  result ;  for  while  Fran- 
cis, by  the  blow  which  he  thus  struck  at  the  very  root 
of  civilization,  pacified  the  priesthood,  the  court  of 
Rome,  and  the  more  fanatical  of  his  subjects,  he  most 
imprudently  and  recklessly  overlooked  the  probable 
effect  of  such  proceedings  upon  the  minds  of  the  Prot- 
estant Princes,  whose  continued  alliance  had  become 
doubly  valuable  to  him  since  he  had  resolved  upon 
renewing  the  war  against  the  Emperor. 

The  conviction  of  his  error  was  soon  forced  upon 
him.  The  enormous  cruelties  which  he  had  perpe- 
trated upon  their  co-religionists  excited  the  horror  and 
indignation  of  the  members  of  the  league  of  Smal- 
kalden,  who  openly  declared  that  the  interests  of  their 
faith  would  be  less  endangered  by  their  adherence  to 
the  house  of  Austria,  than  to  those  of  a  monarch  whose 
barbarity  had  already  sacrificed  so  many  valuable  lives. 

In  vain  did  Francis,  anxious  to  regain  the  confidence 
of  the  German  Princes,  address  each  separately,  as- 
serting that  the  culprits  had  suffered  rather  as  political 
than  as  religious  delinquents ;  in  vain  did  he  write  to 
Melancthon  with  his  own  hand,  entreating  him  to  re- 
pair to  France,  and  to  discuss  the  subject  of  his  faith 
with  the  doctors  of  the  Sorbonne ;  assuring  him  that 
he  did  not  consider  it  impossible  to  unite  the  French 
and  German  churches ;  the  league  were  not  to  be  de- 
luded by  a  subterfuge;  and  consequently,  although 
when  urged  to  the  step  by  Luther,  Melancthon  con- 


Francis  I  105 

sented  to  undertake  the  journey  to  France,  in  order, 
if  possible,  to  prevent  a  recurrence  of  the  butchery 
of  the  past  months,  the  Elector  of  Saxony  positively 
refused  to  permit  him  to  take  a  step  of  such  importance 
without  the  sanction  of  the  Emperor. 

While  thus  occupied  at  home,  Francis  still  main- 
tained his  resolution  of  once  more  invading  the  Mila- 
nese ;  and  having  authorized  the  Count  Guillaume  de 
Furstemberg  to  levy  troops  in  Germany,  he  despatched 
the  President  Poyet  to  Savoy,  to  request  from  the  Duke 
a  free  passage  for  the  French  army  through  his  terri- 
tories. Charles  of  Savoy,  however,  at  the  instigation 
of  his  wife,  refused  to  hearken  to  such  a  proposition, 
and  his  refusal  so  exasperated  the  King  that  he  imme- 
diately declared  war  against  him  ;  upon  which,  Admiral 
de  Brion  Chabot,  who,  having  entered  Brescia,  had 
taken  possession  of  all  the  towns,  none  of  which  were 
garrisoned,  thence  proceeded  to  Savoy,  where  he  made 
himself  master  of  Chambery  and  Montmelian,  with  all 
the  territory  on  that  side  of  Mont  Cenis. 

The  Duke  of  Savoy,  alarmed  by  a  promptitude  of 
hostilities  for  which  he  was  thoroughly  unprepared, 
urged  the  Emperor  to  lose  no  time  in  coming  to  his 
succour ;  and  his  ambasadors  encountered  Charles  V. 
at  Naples,  where  he  had  just  disembarked  amid  the 
acclamations  of  the  people,  with  the  laurels  recently 
gained  at  Tunis  fresh  upon  his  brow.  The  envoys  of 
the  Duke  were  instructed  to  propose  to  the  conqueror, 
with  a  view  of  inducing  him  to  espouse  at  once  the 
interests  of  their  master,  the  exchange  of  Nice,  and 
other  territories  then  in  the  possession  of  the  Duke 
on  the  French  side  of  the  Alps,  against  such  as  might 


io6  Reign  of 

be  aften\-ards  agreed  upon  between  them ;  an  offer 
which  augmented  at  once  the  anger  and  the  alarm  of 
Francis,  as  the  cession  of  these  particular  portions  of 
the  duchy  of  Savoy  opened  up  a  way  into  his  own 
kingdom,  of  which  the  Emperor  could  avail  himself  at 
his  pleasure,  by  invading  Dauphiny  and  Provence,  and 
thus  securing  an  entrance  into  the  very  heart  of 
France. 

This  negotiation  was,  however,  abandoned,  the  death 
of  Francisco  Sforza,  which  occurred  just  at  this  period, 
having  arrested  the  proceedings  of  Chabot;  who,  as 
well  as  the  King  his  master,  anticipated  that  the  Duke 
having  died  without  issue,  the  claim  of  the  French 
Princes  would  no  longer  be  disputed  by  the  Emperor; 
and  that,  consequently,  it  would  be  mere  wanton 
cruelty  to  take  cities  by  force  which  must  ere  long 
recognise  their  legitimate  sovereign  in  the  person  of 
Francis.  Both  the  one  and  the  other  had,  however, 
forgotten  that  ambition  was  no  less  the  ruling  passion 
of  Charles  than  of  his  rival ;  and  that  he  was  little  likely, 
at  the  very  proudest  moment  of  his  life,  to  detach  one 
gem  from  the  coronal  which  he  wore  with  so  much 
jealousy. 

Nor  did  the  feeling  evinced  by  the  Neapolitans  when, 
by  the  death  of  Sforza,  they  saw  the  duchy  of  Milan 
about  to  fall  once  more  into  his  hands,  and  ascertained 
that  the  same  distrust  and  dissatisfaction  had  mani- 
fested itself  throughout  the  whole  of  the  Italian  states, 
tend  to  render  the  Emperor  more  compliant.  He  had 
entered  Naples  as  the  protector  of  Christendom  against 
the  Infidels  ;  his  train  had  been  swelled  by  the  ambassa- 
dors of  all  the  Princes  of  Italy,  who  had  submitted  to 


iM'ancis  1  107 

him,  as  to  a  supreme  arbitrator,  their  several  subjects 
of  dispute  and  misunderstanding;  the  Florentine 
patriots  had  appealed  to  him  to  re-establish  them  as  a 
republic,  and  they  had  yielded  passively  to  his  will 
when  he  insisted  upon  confirming  Alessandro  de' 
Medici  *  in  his  sovereignty,  stained  as  he  was  with 
crime ;  and  moreover,  as  an  earnest  of  his  favour, 
guaranteed  to  him,  in  accordance  with  a  pledge  al- 
ready given,  the  hand  of  his  natural  daughter  Mar- 
guerite ;  to  whom  the  Duke  was  subsequently  married 
on  the  28th  of  February,  1536. 

On  the  8th  of  July  of  the  year  which  we  are  now 
recording  (1535),  France  was  delivered  from  an  unjust 
Minister  in  the  person  of  the  Chancellor  Duprat,  who 
expired  of  pityriasis,  at  his  chateau  at  Nantouillet, 
in  intense  suffering,  not  less  of  mind  than  of  body  ;  the 
agony  of  the  hideous  disease  to  which  he  fell  a  victim 
being  even  exceeded  by  the  torments  of  a  guilty  and 
remorseful  conscience,  which  vented  itself  in  tears  and 
groans,  but  to  which  he  had  listened  too  late.  He  was 
succeeded  in  the  Chancellorship  by  Antoine  du  Bourg, 
the  President  of  the  Parliament  of  Paris. 

The  court  was  at  this  period  sojourning  at  Amboise, 
where  the  Queen  of  Navarre  was  on  a  visit ;  and  her 

*  Alessandro  de'  Medici  was  the  son  of  Lorenzo  II.,  Duke  of  Urbino, 
or,  as  some  historians  assert,  the  natural  son  of  Clement  VII.  He  was 
forced  upon  the  Florentines  by  Charles  V.,  in  1532,  as  their  Duke,  and 
the  succession  secured  to  his  children.  His  tyranny  and  extortion  caused 
him  to  be  universally  detested,  while  his  cruelty  made  him  the  scourge 
of  the  duchy,  and  the  terror  of  all  by  whom  he  was  surrounded.  He 
caused  the  death,  by  poison,  of  the  Cardinal  Hyppolito  de'  Medici,  the 
son  of  Julio  II.,  and  grandson  of  Lorenzo  I.,  surnamed  the  Great.  He 
married  Marguerite  d'Autriche,  the  natural  daughter  of  Charles  V., 
in  1536,  and  was  assassinated  in  the  following  year,  by  Lorenzino  de' 
Medici,  the  son  of  Lorenzo  III.,  and  grandson  of  Pietro  Francisco. 


io8  Reign  of 

arrival  had  been  hailed  as  the  occasion  for  a  succession 
of  festivities,  at  which  the  Duchesse  d'Etampes  openly 
presided.  The  favour  of  Anne  de  Pisseleu  had  now 
reached  its  extreme  point.  She  had  enriched  and  en- 
nobled her  family;  she  had  seen  herself  powerful 
enough  to  assume  the  place,  and  almost  to  usurp  the 
dignity,  of  the  wife  of  the  sovereign ;  she  had  secured 
the  friendship  of  Catherine  de'  Medici ;  and  she  had  be- 
come the  dispenser  of  all  the  royal  bounties.  Many 
a  noble  courtier  assumed  her  colours  in  the  lists,  and 
many  a  titled  abbot  was  content  to  stand  beside  her 
at  her  toilette.  None  cared  to  remember  that  her  life 
was  one  of  the  most  unblushing  licentiousness;  and 
while  the  rabble  of  the  Pre-aux-Clercs  bandied  her 
name  among  them  Hke  that  of  the  vilest  of  her  sex,  and 
made  her  profligate  adventures  the  theme  of  their  ribald 
gossipry,  there  was  neither  prince  nor  prelate  at  the 
court  who  did  not  obey  her  behest  as  though  it  had 
been  that  of  an  oracle. 

Among  other  entertainments  ostensibly  provided  for 
the  amusement  of  the  King's  sister,  a  tournament  was 
held  in  the  great  court  of  the  castle,  at  which  all  the 
nobles  and  gentlemen  then  resident  at  Amboise  were 
invited  to  assist.  Not  only  the  Princes,  but  even  the 
King  himself,  had  in  turn  taken  their  place  in  the  lists, 
and  the  Due  d'Angouleme  had  particularly  distin- 
guished himself  by  his  prowess.  Of  all  his  children, 
Charles  d'Angouleme,  his  younger  son,  was  the  espe- 
cial favourite  of  Francis,  whom  he  greatly  resembled 
both  in  person  and  temperament.  Impulsive,  reckless, 
and  daring,  he  despised  alike  danger  and  difficulty ; 
while,  even  although  yet  a  boy  in  years,  he  had  already 


Francis  I  109 

seriously  attached  himself  to  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
women  of  the  court.  Unlike  the  Dauphin,  he  was  fair 
with  a  profusion  of  light  hair,  and  dark  blue  eyes,  one 
of  which  he  had,  however,  lost  at  an  early  age  from  the 
eflfects  of  smallpox.  His  ardent  love  of  all  warlike 
amusements  and  field  sports ;  his  frankness,  courage, 
and  gallant  bearing,  had  greatly  endeared  him  to  the 
King,  who  was  repelled  by  the  cold  stateliness  of  the 
Dauphin,  and  irritated  by  the  heavy  and  unsocial  man- 
ners of  the  Due  d'Orleans.  Nevertheless,  Francis  oc- 
casionally endeavoured  to  restrain  the  impetuosity  of 
the  young  Prince,  but  with  little  effect ;  and  his  feeling 
of  exultation  on  the  occasion  to  which  we  are  now 
referring,  was  so  unbounded  when  he  found  himself 
the  hero  of  the  day,  that  it  betrayed  him  into  an  impru- 
dence which  had  nearly  cost  him  his  life. 

The  fatigue  that  he  had  undergone  in  the  lists,  and 
his  consequent  exhaustion,  induced  the  young  Prince 
to  swallow  a  large  goblet  of  spiced  wine  a  few  moments 
before  the  King  rose  from  the  supper-table ;  and  this 
insidious  draught  acted  the  more  potently  upon  him 
from  the  fact  that  he  had  previously  pledged  the  flat- 
terers, by  whom  he  was  surrounded,  with  more  than 
sufficient  vigour.  In  this  state  of  excitement  he  no 
sooner  ascertained  from  one  of  the  chamberlains  that 
the  monarch  had  retired  to  his  apartment,  than  he  rose 
abruptly  from  his  seat,  exclaiming  to  a  group  of  wild 
young  courtiers  who  were  in  attendance  upon  him : 
"  Now  then,  gentlemen,  his  Majesty  is  safe  for  the 
night,  and  we  are  the  lords  of  Amboise.  Let  us  go 
and  take  the  air  upon  the  bridge,  and  see  if  we  cannot 
thrash  some  of  the  rascally  lacqueys  who  amuse  them- 


no  Reign  of 

selves  by  stopping  up  the  thoroughfare,  and  striking 
those  who  thrust  them  aside." 

This  proposal  met  with  unanimous  applause ;  and 
the  hot-headed  young  Prince,  and  his  equally  wild 
companions,  at  once  sallied  from  the  palace,  and  rushed 
upon  the  lounging  group  on  the  bridge,  who,  being 
in  the  service  of  the  court,  and  many  among  them  even 
in  that  of  the  King  himself,  all  carried  arms.  Tlie 
darkness  of  the  night  rendered  it  impossible  for  them 
to  recognise  their  assailants ;  and,  consequently,  when 
the  Due  d'Angouleme,  at  the  head  of  his  little  party, 
fell  upon  them  sword  in  hand,  they  defended  them- 
selves vigorously;  while,  as  he  persisted  in  retaining 
his  position,  he  soon  became  the  principal  object  of 
their  attack ;  until  at  length  a  stroke  was  aimed  at  him 
with  so  sure  a  hand,  that  M.  de  Castelnau,  a  Gascon 
noble,  and  one  of  his  favourite  companions,  had  only 
time  to  throw  himself  between  the  Duke  and  his  an- 
tagonist, and  to  receive  the  blow  intended  for  his 
master,  at  whose  feet  he  fell  dead  upon  the  instant. 
At  once  sobered  and  heart-stricken  at  the  result  of  his 
imprudence,  the  young  Prince  shouted  imperiously: 
"  Put  up  your  swords,  gentlemen ;  I  am  the  Due  d'An- 
gouleme." 

At  this  startling  announcement  every  weapon  was 
withdrawn ;  and  in  a  few  seconds  the  bleeding  body  of 
the  faithful  and  devoted  Castelnau,  the  victim  of  this 
ignoble  broil,  was  surrounded  only  by  the  Prince  and 
his  followers.  Charles  d'Angouleme,  as  he  bent  over 
him,  shed  tears  of  unaffected  sorrow,  as  sincere  as  they 
were  unavailing ;  he  did  not  even  seek  to  ascertain  by 
whose  hand  his  friend  had  fallen,  for  he  was  self-con- 


Francis  I  1 1 1 

victed ;  and  he  could  not  disguise  from  himself  that  he 
had  been  more  guilty  than  the  actual  murderer. 

In  order  to  dissipate  the  annoyance  which  he  felt  at 
this  disgraceful  adventure,  and  if  possible  to  overcome 
the  gloom  which  the  fate  of  a  friend  to  whom  he  had 
been  greatly  attached,  had  shed  over  the  spirits  of  the 
young  Prince,  the  King,  after  having  severely  repri- 
manded his  son,  removed  with  the  court  to  Chambord ; 
and  it  was,  probably,  the  dread  which  he  felt  lest  the 
hitherto  lively  youth  should  belie  the  promise  of  his 
boyhood,  that  led  him  to  observe,  even  more  closely 
than  ever,  the  demeanour  of  his  other  sons.  On  one 
occasion,  as  he  was  leaning  over  the  balcony  of  the 
great  hall,  watching  the  three  Princes  who  were  en- 
gaged at  tennis  in  the  court  below,  he  turned  suddenly 
towards  the  Grande  Senechale  who  was  standing  near 
him,  and  motioning  to  her  to  advance,  he  directed  her 
attention  to  the  listlessness  with  which  the  Due  d'An- 
gouleme  was  pursuing  the  game. 

"  I  scarcely  recognise  him,"  he  said  with  a  sigh ; 
"  his  natural  enthusiasm  is  quenched.  Even  the  Dau- 
phin exhibits  moie  excitement." 

"  Give  him  time.  Sire,"  replied  Diana  de  Poitiers 
soothingly ;  "  he  is  young,  and  he  has  lost  a  friend. 
His  Royal  Highness  loved  M.  de  Castelnau." 

"  Doubtlessly  you  are  right,  Madame,"  acquiesced 
the  King.  "  At  least  you  are  an  admirable  consoler, 
and  I  dare  not  doubt  your  words.  He  is  young,  and 
we  know  that  time  cures  all  evils." 

"  Not  all.  Sire." 

Francis  looked  at  her  steadfastly.  "  You  are  right 
again,  Madame ;  not  all.    There  are  certain  evils  which 


112  Reign  of 

time  and  memory  can  only  canker;  and  others  for 
which  it  affords  no  hope.  You  see  the  Dauphin. 
Time  fails  to  make  a  Frenchman  of  the  Spaniard." 

"  Monseigneur  is  grave  beyond  his  years,  assuredly, 
Sire,"  said  Madame  de  Breze ;  "  but  his  mind  is  all 
nobleness." 

"And  Henry,  Madame?  what  will  you  say  of 
Henry?  "  asked  the  King  almost  peevishly.  "  For  my 
own  part,  I  despair  of  him.  Since  his  marriage  he  has 
become  more  unsocial  and  impracticable  than  ever." 

"  Surely  your  Majesty  did  not  anticipate  that  a  wife 
would  render  him  more  frank  and  joyous,"  said  Diana 
with  a  slight  accent  of  sarcasm  ; "  for  the  Due  d'Orleans 
there  was  no  cure  but  love." 

"  Aha !  is  it  so,  fair  Diana  ?  "  asked  Francis,  suddenly 
roused  into  excitement ;  "  then  we  have  committed  a 
fatal  error,  for  I  fear  that  love  and  marriage  are  almost 
incompatible." 

The  beautiful  widow  was  silent. 

"  Catherine  is,  however,  handsome  enough  to  ani- 
mate a  statue,"  pursued  the  King;  "  it  can  scarcely  be 
difficult  to  love  her." 

"  True,"  said  Madame  de  Breze,  with  an  arch  look ; 
"  but  love  cannot  be  compelled ;  make  it  a  duty,  and  it 
turns  to  loathing." 

"He  is,  then,  irreclaimable?" 

"  By  no  means.  A  sincere  and  ardent  passion  would 
arouse  him  from  his  present  apathy ;  for  none  love  more 
deeply  than  those  who  resist  moral  coercion." 

"  On  the  faith  of  a  gentlemen,  you  possess  more  wis- 
dom, Madame,  handsome  as  you  are,"  exclaimed  Fran- 
cis energetically,  "  than  all  the  doctors  of  the  Sorbonne. 


Francis  I  113 

I  only  wish  that  some  one  as  fair  and  as  fascinating  as 
yourself  would  undertake  his  conversion.  I  should  be 
her  debtor  beyond  all  requital." 

"  The  experiment  might  at  least  be  tried,"  murmured 
Diana  twisting  her  pearl  chatelaine  about  her  taper 
fingers. 

"  But  by  whom  ?  "  asked  the  King ;  "  for  such  an 
undertaking  it  would  require  a  miracle  to  ensure  suc- 
cess. If,  indeed,  you  could  be  prevailed  upon  to  sacri- 
fice yourself — " 

"  Your  Majesty  does  not  possess  a  more  devoted 
servant  than  Diana  de  Poitiers." 

"  I  know  it,  Madame ;  I  know  it,"  said  Francis,  as  a 
strange  expression  passed  over  his  face ;  "  and  I  am 
equally  aware  that  you  at  least  could  not  fail ;  but  per- 
haps, the  past — " 

"  Do  you  fear,  Sire,"  asked  the  Grande  Senechale 
with  an  ironical  smile,  "  that  the  memory  of  M.  de 
Breze— " 

The  King  forced  an  uneasy  laugh,  as  he  hastily  re- 
plied, without  awaiting  the  conclusion  of  her  inquiry, 
"  I  have  no  such  apprehension,  fair  lady ;  therefore  let 
the  old  Senechal  rest  in  peace.  We  will  revert  no  more 
to  bygone  years ;  nothing  is  so  idle  as  retrospection ; 
while  as  regards  the  future  I  do  not  for  a  moment  doubt 
your  power,  and  only  wish  that  it  could  be  successfully 
exerted." 

"  Your  wishes  are  my  law,  Sire,"  was  the  rejoinder 
of  the  fair  widow,  as  her  rich  lips  parted  in  affected 
merriment ;  "  but  Madame  d'Etampes  is  approaching, 
and  I  will  no  longer  intrude  upon  your  Majesty." 

"  The  Duchess  is  jealous,"  said  the  royal  libertine,  as 
Vol.  III.— 8 


114  Reign  of 

he  acknowledged  her  parting  curtsey ;  "  and  we  must 
not  violate  the  proprieties  at  Chambord.  I  will  not 
detain  you,  Madame  la  Grande  Senechale,"  and  as 
Diana  moved  away,  the  favourite  advanced  to  the  bal- 
cony ;  a  liberty  upon  which  the  neglected  Queen  would 
have  feared  to  venture. 

At  this  period  the  widow  of  Louis  de  Breze  had 
already  attained  her  thirty-first  year,  while  the  Prince 
Henry  was  only  in  his  seventeenth ;  and  at  the  first 
glance  it  would  appear  as  though  so  formidable  a  dis- 
parity of  age  must  have  rendered  any  attempt  on  her 
part  to  engage  the  aflFections  of  so  mere  a  youth  alike 
abortive  and  ridiculous ;  but  so  perfectly  had  she  pre- 
served even  the  youthful  bloom  which  had  added  so 
much  to  her  attractions  on  her  first  appearance  at  court, 
that  she  appeared  ten  years  younger  than  she  actually 
was.  Her  features  were  regular  and  classical;  her 
complexion  faultless ;  her  hair  of  a  rich  purple  black, 
which  took  a  golden  tint  in  the  sunshine;  while  her 
teeth,  her  ankle,  her  hands  and  arms,  and  her  bust, 
were  each  in  their  turn  the  theme  of  the  court  poets. 
That  the  extraordinary  and  almost  fabulous  duration 
of  her  beauty  was  in  a  great  degree  due  to  the  precau- 
tions which  she  adopted,  there  can  be  little  doubt,  for 
she  spared  no  efTort  to  secure  it ;  she  was  jealously 
careful  of  her  health,  and  in  the  most  severe  weather 
bathed  in  cold  water ;  she  suffered  no  cosmetic  to  ap- 
proach her,  denouncing  every  compound  of  the  kind 
as  worthy  only  of  those  to  whom  nature  had  been  so 
niggardly  as  to  compel  them  to  complete  her  imperfect 
work ;  she  rose  every  morning  at  six  o'clock,  and  had 
no  sooner  left  her  chamber  than  she  sprang  into  the 


Francis  I  115 

saddle,  and  after  having  galloped  a  league  or  two  re- 
turned to  her  bed,  where  she  remained  until  midday 
engaged  in  reading.  The  system  appears  a  singular 
one,  but  in  her  case  it  undoubtedly  proved  successful, 
as,  after  having  enslaved  the  Due  d'Orleans  in  her 
thirty-first  year,  she  still  reigned  in  absolute  sover- 
eignty over  the  heart  of  the  King  of  France  when  she 
had  nearly  reached  the  age  of  sixty!  It  is  certain, 
however,  that  the  magnificent  Diana  owed  no  small 
portion  of  this  extraordinary  and  unprecedented  con- 
stancy to  the  charms  of  her  mind  and  the  brilliancy  of 
her  intellect. 

The  short  dialogue  between  Francis  and  herself 
which  we  have  given  above,  inspired  the  ambitious 
widow  with  new  ideas  and  aspirations.  Hitherto  she 
had  been  content  to  await  a  reaction  in  the  heart  of 
Francis  himself.  She  did  not  beheve  that  Madame 
d'Etampes  could  long  conceal  from  him  the  extent  of 
her  profligacy ;  and  well  aware  that  should  the  favour- 
ite be  disgraced,  her  successor  would  soon  be  de- 
termined, she  contented  herself  by  exerting  all  her 
fascinations  against  the  facile  heart  of  the  monarch, 
and  watching  for  the  hour  of  her  own  triumph. 

The  few  sentences  which  had  passed  in  the  balcony, 
however,  had  sufficed  to  open  up  a  new  career  before 
her.  That  the  King  had  spoken  rather  in  bitter  mirth 
than  in  sober  seriousness,  she  was  well  aware ;  but  this 
conviction  failed  to  shake  her  purpose.  The  saturnine 
and  forbidding  nature  of  the  Due  d'Orleans  moreover 
rendered  the  task  which  she  was  about  to  undertake 
one  of  no  common  difficulty,  but  this  very  conscious- 
ness piqued  her  vanity,  and  determined  her  to  perse- 
vere. 


ii6  Reign  of 

The  Prince  was  at  first  annoyed,  and  even  abashed, 
at  the  undisguised  preference  exhibited  towards  him 
by  the  most  beautiful  woman  at  court ;  but  Diana  soon 
succeeded  in  subjugating  his  heart  through  his  vanity. 
Conscious  that  he  possessed  neither  the  dignity  of  the 
Dauphin,  nor  the  frank  gracefulness  of  his  younger 
brother,  Henri  d'Orleans  had  hitherto  carefully  avoided 
the  society  of  tlie  opposite  sex ;  and  had  even  received 
the  hand  of  his  wife  with  a  marked  repugnance  which 
had  drawn  down  upon  him  the  displeasure  of  the  King ; 
but  he  soon  found  that  there  was  no  resisting  the  se- 
ductions of  a  siren,  who  while  she  looked  into  his  face 
with  the  brightest  smile  and  the  most  brilliant  eyes  in 
the  world,  discovered  in  himself  a  thousand  estimable 
qualities  and  personal  attractions  to  which  he  had  never 
dreamt  he  could  advance  any  claim. 

That  he  did  not  long  combat  his  growing  passion  is 
evident  from  a  poem  addressed  to  him  by  his  fair  and 
frail  conquest  only  a  few  weeks  subsequently ;  and  this 
production,  extracted  from  the  MSS.  of  the  Biblio- 
theque  Royale,  is  so  characteristic  alike  of  the  taste 
and  the  morals  of  the  time,  that  we  offer  no  apology 
for  its  insertion. 

"  Voicy  vraisment  qu'Amour  un  beau  matin 
S'en  vint  m'offrir  flourette  tres  gentille, 

Lk,  se  prit-il,  a  ournez  vostre  teint 

Et  vistement  violiers  et  jonquille 
Me  rejetoit,  k  tant,  que  ma  mantille 
En  estoit  pleine,  et  mon  coeur  se  pasmoit ; 
(Car,  voyez-vous,  flourette  si  gentille 
Estois  gar9on  frais,  dispos,  et  jeunnet). 


Francis  I  117 

Ains  tremblottante  et  destournant  les  yeux  .... 
Nenni  .  .  .  disois-je  .  .  .  Ah,  ne  serez  degue, 
Reprit  Amour,  et  soudain  k  ma  vue 
Va  presentant  un  laurier  merveilleux. 

Mieux  vault,  lui  dis-je,  estre  sasge  que  Royne 

Ains  me  sentis  et  fraimir  et  trembler, 
Diane  faillist,  et  comprendrez  sans  peine 
Duquel  matin  je  praitends  reparler." 

What  effect  the  triumph  of  Madame  de  Breze  over 
the  heart  of  the  Prince  produced  upon  the  mind  of  the 
King,  the  old  chronicler,  who  dilates  complaisantly 
upon  all  the  preceding  details,  does  not  inform  us ; 
but  the  impression  which  it  made  upon  Madame 
d'Etampes  soon  became  apparent,  and  was  destined 
to  exert  a  most  unhappy  influence  over  the  fortunes 
of  the  nation.  The  first  weapon  which  the  haughty 
favourite  wielded  against  the  mature  mistress  of  the 
young  Duke  was  that  of  ridicule.  She  affected  to  dis- 
credit the  report  that  M.  d'Orleans  could  be  enthralled 
by  the  antiquated  charms  of  a  "  wrinkled  old  woman  ;  " 
and  in  support  of  her  argument,  amused  herself  by  as- 
serting that  she  was  born  in  the  same  year  in  which  the 
daughter  of  St.  Vallier  had  espoused  the  Grand  Sene- 
chal  of  Normandy.  Of  course  she  found  many  and 
attentive  auditors,  not  one  of  whom  attempted  to  dis- 
prove her  words,  although  all  were  aware  that  Madame 
de  Breze  was  the  senior  of  the  Duchess  only  by  seven 
years.  She  next  attacked  the  person  of  her  victim, 
forewarning  those  who  were  bold  enough  to  uphold 
her  claims  to  admiration,  that  the  beauty  of  which  she 
was  so  vain  was  known  to  be  the  result  of  sorcery, 
and  that  they  would  ere  long  see  it  vanish  as  mysteri- 


ii8  Reign  of 

ously  as  it  had  been  bestowed.  Diana,  however,  was 
not  to  be  conquered  by  means  so  puerile  as  these ;  and, 
secure  of  the  affections  and  support  of  the  Prince,  she 
treated  the  calumnies  of  her  persecutor  with  proud 
and  silent  disdain. 

The  nature  of  Madame  d'Etampes  was  ill  calculated 
to  brook  this  tacit  assumption  of  superiority;  and 
foiled  in  her  efforts  to  rid  herself  of  the  intrusive  beauty 
by  her  own  agency,  she  carried  her  vindictiveness  so 
far  as  to  demand  of  the  King  that  he  should  exile 
Madame  de  Breze  from  the  court;  but  Francis,  who 
had  already  began  to  congratulate  himself  upon  the 
altered  deportment  of  the  Duke,  which  he  attributed 
entirely  to  the  influence  exerted  over  him  by  Diana, 
refused  to  accede  to  her  wishes ;  reminding  her  that 
while  the  Duchesse  d'Orleans  uttered  no  complaint, 
and  continued  to  exhibit  towards  the  Grande  Senechale 
the  same  consideration  and  regard  as  ever,  it  was  im- 
possible that  he  could  interfere  to  prevent  the  progress 
of  the  liaison.  Not  even  this  declaration  could,  how- 
ever, discourage  the  pertinacious  favourite,  who 
thenceforward  studiously  avoided  all  reference  to  Diana 
herself,  but  strenuously  endeavoured  to  disparage  the 
Duke  in  the  eyes  of  his  royal  father ;  drawing  invidious 
comparisons  between  that  Prince  and  the  Dauphin; 
and  seeking  by  every  means  in  her  power  to  crush  his 
rapidly  increasing  favour. 

It  must  not,  nevertheless,  be  supposed,  that  although 
Madame  de  Breze  possessed  sufficient  self-command 
to  exhibit  nothing  save  contempt  towards  the  vindic- 
tive Duchess,  she  did  not  acutely  feel,  and  bitterly  re- 
sent the  sarcasms  of  which  she  had  been  made  the 


Francis  I  119 

subject.  Jealous  of  the  superior  power  of  the  royal 
mistress,  and  exasperated  by  her  insults,  even  while 
she  displayed  worldly  wisdom  enough  patiently  to 
abide  her  time  of  vengeance,  her  heart  was  to  the  full 
as  much  agitated  by  hatred  as  that  of  Anne  de  Pisseleu 
herself ;  and  a  conviction  that  such  must  in  reaUty  be 
the  case  once  more  divided  the  court  into  two  separate 
factions,  which  the  doubtful  aspect  of  public  afifairs 
alone  tended  to  render  for  a  time  innocuous. 

Anxious  if  possible  to  avoid  a  war  with  Francis, 
while  still  apprehensive  of  a  Turkish  invasion,  and 
awaiting  a  favourable  opportunity  to  subjugate  the 
Princes  of  the  Protestant  league,  whom  he  regarded  as 
rebels  alike  against  his  own  authority  and  that  of  the 
Church;  and,  moreover,  alarmed  by  the  rapid  spread 
of  Lutheranism  in  the  Low  Countries,  Charles  deter- 
mined rather  to  temporize  with  his  rival  on  the  subject 
of  the  duchy  of  Milan,  than  by  an  abrupt  rejection  of 
his  claim  to  excite  him  to  hostilities ;  and  accordingly 
he  informed  the  Sieur  de  Velly,  who  was  awaiting  him 
at  Naples  with  the  congratulations  of  the  French  King 
upon  his  victories  in  Africa,  that  he  was  willing  to  cede 
the  Milanese  to  one  of  the  sons  of  Francis,  on  con- 
dition that  the  duchy  should  remain  a  distinct  sover- 
eignty, and  that  Germany  and  France  should  become 
so  closely  allied  by  marriage  as  to  prevent  the  possi- 
bility of  future  aggression  on  either  side. 

He  declared,  moreover,  that  he  was  so  sincere  in  this 
declaration,  that  he  should  take  no.steps  towards  the 
disposal  of  the  province  until  he  received  the  reply  of 
the  King  upon  three  points  on  which  he  was  anxious 
to  ascertain  his  intentions.    Namely,  whether  he  were 


I20  Reign  of 

prepared  to  lend  his  assistance  against  the  Turks ;  to 
compel  the  Protestant  Princes  to  revert  to  the  Roman- 
ist religion ;  and  to  co-operate  with  him  in  the  pacifica- 
tion of  all  Christendom.  Should  Francis  accede  to 
these  terms,  he  asserted  that  he  was  ready  to  bestow 
the  duchy  upon  Charles,  the  younger  of  the  three 
Princes,  on  condition  that  the  Due  d'Orleans  should 
accompany  him  to  the  siege  of  Algiers. 

As  he  had  anticipated,  however,  Francis,  while  he 
consented  to  the  three  points  upon  which  he  had  first 
insisted,  refused  to  comply  with  those  which  regarded 
his  sons ;  and  he  instructed  M.  de  Velly  to  explain  to 
the  Emperor  that  he  desired  the  Milanese  for  the  Due 
d'Orleans,  and  that  he  was  ready  to  offer  four  hun- 
dred thousand  crowns  of  gold  for  the  investiture ;  di- 
recting him  at  the  same  time  to  press  for  a  reply. 
When  this  decision  was  made  known  to  him,  Charles 
contented  himself  by  vague  declarations  of  his  good 
faith,  and  evaded  a  direct  answer;  while  the  measures 
which  he  meanwhile  adopted  augured  ill  for  the  suc- 
cess of  the  negotiation.  He  had  not  only  purchased 
the  fealty  of  Alessandro  de'  Medici  by  a  marriage 
which  at  once  flattered  his  vanity  and  secured  his  sov- 
ereignty, but  he  also  entered  into  a  new  league  with 
the  Venetians ;  who,  dazzled  by  his  triumphs  in  Africa, 
and  induced  by  the  persuasions  of  the  Due  d'Urbino, 
once  more  declared  themselves  his  alHes;  while  he 
directed  the  Dowager-Queen  of  Hungary,  who  had 
succeeded  to  the  government  of  the  Low  Countries  on 
the  death  of  Marguerite  of  Austria,  as  well  as  his 
lieutenants  in  Spain,  to  make  levies  both  of  men  and 
money ;  while  he  was  himself  occupied  in  raising  sup- 


Francis  I  121 

plies  throughout  Naples  and  Sicily,  and  in  the  rein- 
forcement of  his  African  army. 

Francis,  nevertheless,  deluded  himself  with  the  be- 
lief, that  as  the  Emperor  had  spontaneously  offered  the 
duchy  of  Milan  to  his  third  son,  (a  concession  which 
he  could  only  attribute  to  his  reluctance  to  renew  the 
war,)  he  would,  when  he  became  convinced  that  he 
had  no  other  alternative,  ultimately  consent  to  transfer 
it  to  the  Due  d'Orleans ;  or  even,  should  he  insist  upon 
such  an  arrangement,  to  himself.  He  was  at  this  period 
suffering  from  severe  illness  at  Dijon ;  and  was  totally 
unprepared  for  the  communication  which  he  received 
from  De  Velly,  to  the  effect  that  the  Emperor  had  de- 
clared, that  had  he  been  aware  of  the  rigorous  treat- 
ment which  the  Duke  of  Savoy  had  experienced  at 
the  hands  of  the  French  King,  he  should  never  have 
condescended  to  the  proposition  which  he  had  made, 
but  that  having  mooted  the  subject  he  would  not  re- 
tract his  offer;  while  he  trusted  that  his  forbearance 
would  induce  Francis  to  arrange  matters  in  Savoy,  and 
to  act  with  similar  consistency. 

The  negotiation  was  consequently  continued,  but 
the  position  of  the  two  potentates  was  no  longer  the 
same.  Charles  had  by  this  clever  policy  gained  a  su- 
premacy far  greater  than  it  at  first  appeared  to  be; 
and  he  continued  to  make  strenuous  exertions  to  pro- 
tect himself  in  the  event  of  any  aggressive  measures 
on  the  part  of  his  rival.  He  revealed  to  the  Pope  the 
correspondence  into  which  he  had  entered  with  the 
French  King,  and  made  the  same  overtures  to  him 
which  he  had  made  to  Francis;  while  he,  moreover, 
volunteered  to  renew  his  old  friendship  with  Henry 


122  Reign  of 

VIII,  alleging  that  the  death  of  his  aunt  had  removed 
the  cause  of  dissatisfaction  which  had  induced  him  to 
abandon  the  interests  of  England  for  those  of  France ; 
and  that  he,  consequently  felt  himself  at  liberty  to 
recur  to  his  former  and  more  genial  associations. 

These  important  steps  once  taken,  he  proceeded  to 
Rome  with  great  pomp,  where  he  remained  for  thir- 
teen days,  holding  constant  conferences  with  the  Pon- 
tiflf;  and  finally  requested  him  to  summon  the  Cardi- 
nals and  foreign  ministers,  before  whom,  bareheaded, 
and  with  his  plumed  hat  in  his  hand,  he  indulged  in 
the  most  unmeasured  invectives  and  menaces  against 
Francis;  recapitulating  all  the  grievances  of  which 
he  had  to  complain;  accusing  him  of  constantly  in- 
fringing the  peace  upon  frivolous  pretexts,  of  falsifying 
his  word,  of  troubling  the  tranquillity  of  both  Italy  and 
Germany,  and  of  persecuting  the  Duke  of  Savoy ;  and 
ultimately  concluding  his  harangfue,  by  declaring  that 
the  French  King  must  either  consent  to  accept  the 
duchy  of  Milan  for  his  younger  son  upon  the  condi- 
tions which  he  had  stipulated,  or  meet  him  in  single 
combat  with  sword  and  dagger,  on  the  recognised  and 
solemn  pledge  that  the  successful  combatant  should, 
with  all  the  resources  he  could  command,  and  under 
the  orders  of  the  sovereign  Pontiff,  undertake  a  cru- 
sade against  the  Infidels,  or  engage  in  a  war  which 
could  end  only  in  the  total  ruin  of  one  of  the  two 
powers. 

At  this  period  of  his  speech,  he  also  suffered  his  irri- 
Itation  to  betray  him  into  an  insult  toward  the  French 
army  as  unjust  as  it  was  offensive ;  for,  in  alluding  to 
the  result  of  the  late  hostilities,  he  exclaimed,  "  If  I 


Francis  I  123 

had  no  better  soldiers  than  those  of  Francis,  I  would 
forthwith  go  with  my  hands  tied,  and  a  halter  about 
my  neck,  and  implore  the  mercy  of  my  enemy." 

This  address  having  been  delivered  in  the  Spanish 
language  was  very  imperfectly  understood  by  either 
M.  de  Velly,  or  the  Bishop  of  Macon,  the  French  am- 
bassador at  the  Papal  court;  but  the  extraordinary 
and  unaccustomed  vehemence  of  Charles,  and  the  few 
sentences  which  they  were  enabled  to  collect,  ren- 
dered them  suspicious  that  a  public  affront  had  been 
offered  to  their  sovereign ;  whereupon  they  demanded 
an  audience  of  the  Emperor  on  the  following  morning, 
and  required  to  be  informed  if  they  had  rightly  inter- 
preted his  words,  and  if  they  were  empowered  to  in- 
form their  master  that  his  imperial  majesty  had  defied 
him  to  single  combat.  Charles,  in  reply,  assured  them 
that  he  had  in  no  way  assailed  the  honor  of  their  sov- 
ereign, although  he  had  justified  himself;  and  de- 
clared that  he  should  be  deeply  hurt  were  his  words 
misconstrued,  as  he  had  a  great  esteem  for  the  King 
his  brother,  and  had  never  had  cause  of  complaint 
against  him. 

De  Velly  had,  a  day  or  two  previously  urged  him 
afresh  upon  the  subject  of  the  negotiation,  when  he  be- 
came irritated,  and  demanded  impetuously:  "And 
you  who  are  so  importunate,  have  you  authority  to 
conclude  the  treaty  ?  " 

The  royal  envoy  admitted  that  he  was  invested  with 
no  such  powers ;  but  added  that  the  Admiral  Brion  de 
Chabot  and  the  Cardinal  de  Lorraine  were  already  on 
their  way,  and  fully  accredited. 

"  Such  being  the  case,"  broke  in  Charles,  "  as  you 


124  Reign  of 

have  no  power  to  act,  by  what  right  do  you  tell  me 
that  I  give  you  nothing  but  words,  when  in  point  of 
fact  it  is  your  own  case  towards  me  ?  But  of  those  I 
have  already  given  you  so  many,  that  I  shall  waste 
no  more  until  you  are  authorized  to  complete  the  nego- 
tiation." 

On  ascertaining  the  result  of  their  audience,  the 
Pontiff  frankly  declared  to  the  French  ambassadors, 
that  he  saw  no  prospect  whatever  of  a  successful  issue 
to  so  intricate  an  affair ;  and  that  he  was  satisfied  the 
Emperor  was  merely  amusing  them  by  words  in  order 
to  gain  time,  for  that  he  never  would  be  induced  to 
cede  Milan  to  the  Due  d'Orleans,  who,  in  the  event 
of  his  surviving  the  Dauphin,  would  thus  merge  the 
duchy  in  the  crown  of  France. 

Moreover,  there  could  be  no  doubt  that  the  sudden 
violence  betrayed  by  Charles  in  the  assembly,  when 
his  previous  poHcy  had  been  to  temporize,  was  oc- 
casioned by  the  intelligence  which  had  just  reached 
him,  that  Francis,  wearied  by  his  procrastination,  had 
authorized  his  generals  to  pursue  their  operations  in 
Piedmont,  which  they  had  done  so  successfully  as  to 
compel  his  brother-in-law  the  Duke  of  Savoy  to  fly. 

That  he  instantly  repented  is  sufficiently  evident 
however  from  his  conduct  on  the  morrow,  when  he 
endeavoured  once  more  to  cajole  the  French  ambas- 
sadors as  he  had  previously  done ;  but  the  time  for 
forbearance,  as  was  evident  to  all  the  foreign  ministers 
who  had  been  present  at  the  meeting,  was  now  past ; 
and  they  accordingly  did  not  lose  a  moment  in  writing 
to  their  several  courts  to  prepare  them  for  the  war 
which  appeared  inevitable;    and  that  the  impression 


Francis  I  125 

produced  upon  the  mind  of  the  sovereign-pontiff  was 
precisely  similar,  was  made  apparent  by  the  fact  that 
he  summoned  M,  de  Velly  and  the  Bishop  of  Macon 
to  his  presence  the  same  evening,  and  endeavoured  by 
every  argument  he  could  advance  to  dissuade  them 
from  any  act  of  impetuosity  which  might  tend  to  aug- 
ment the  animosity  of  their  sovereign  against  the  Em- 
peror, and  thus  disturb  a  peace  of  which  Europe  had 
only  just  begun  to  reap  the  benefit.  He  did  not  con- 
ceal his  own  displeasure  at  the  intemperate  language 
uttered  by  Charles ;  but  he  entreated  them  to  palliate 
it  in  their  report;  and,  if  possible,  to  avert  the  peril 
by  which  the  whole  of  Christendom  was  threatened. 

In  reply,  the  French  envoys  respectfully  but  firmly 
represented  to  His  Holiness,  that  they  had  no  alterna- 
tive save  to  render  a  faithful  account  to  their  sovereign 
of  all  that  had  occurred,  the  insult  having  been  too 
public  to  afford  a  chance  of  its  concealment ;  but  they, 
nevertheless,  willingly  consented  to  use  the  greatest 
circumspection,  and  to  abstain  from  all  comment  which 
might  aggravate  the  evil ;  reminding  the  Pope,  more- 
over, that  his  own  neutrality  would  tend  more  power- 
fully to  secure  the  maintenance  of  peace  than  any 
other  measure.  This  the  Pope  at  once  promised  to 
observe ;  and  the  ambassadors  so  far  complied  with 
his  request  as  to  modify  certain  expressions  uttered  by 
the  Emperor,  while  they  omitted  no  portion  of  his 
after-explanation ;  and  as,  upon  their  application  for 
a  copy  of  the  address  which  he  had  delivered  in  the 
assembly,  they  were  informed  by  the  imperial  min- 
isters that  it  had  been  already  forwarded  to  Leide- 
kerke,  the  ambassador  of  Charles  V.  at  the  French 


126  Reign  of 

court,  by  whom  it  was  to  be  presented  to  the  King, 
they  felt  assured  that  the  more  temperate  language 
they  had  adopted  would  not  be  gainsaid  by  the  official 
document. 

Such  indeed  proved  to  be  the  case,  for  the  ameliora- 
tions which  had  been  made  by  all  parties  had  so  much 
weakened  the  offensive  character  of  the  Emperor's 
address,  that  the  reply  of  Francis  was  extremely  tem- 
perate. He  declared  the  treaty  of  Madrid  to  be  invalid, 
inasmuch  as  he  had  acted  under  constraint ;  while  as 
regarded  the  renewed  proposal  of  the  duel,  he  asserted 
that  he  did  not  consider  himself  to  have  received  a 
challenge,  the  Emperor  having  stated  that  his  words 
had  been  misconstrued,  and  that  he  had  no  such  inten- 
tion ;  although,  had  he  not  been  dissuaded  by  his  min- 
isters, he  would  have  accepted  it  with  pleasure  if  it 
could  have  tended  to  spare  the  blood  of  his  subjects. 

This  answer,  which  astonished  as  much  as  it  dis- 
appointed those  who  believed  that  he  was  too  high- 
hearted to  brook  a  second  affront  of  so  marked  and 
unmeasured  a  nature,  Francis  communicated  to  all  the 
foreign  courts  whose  ministers  had  been  present  at 
the  harangue  of  the  Emperor ;  and  at  the  same  time 
he  despatched  the  Cardinal  de  Lorraine  to  Piedmont 
in  order  to  stay  the  progress  of  his  army,  that  Charles 
might  have  no  plausible  pretext  for  entering  upon  hos- 
tilities. Thence  the  prelate  proceeded  to  Sienna,  where 
the  Emperor  was  at  that  period  sojourning ;  and  hav- 
ing obtained  an  audience,  he  respectfully  reminded 
him  of  his  promise  to  cede  the  duchy  of  Milan  to  the 
French  Prince. 

The  demeanour  of  Charles  V.  was  cold  and  calm. 


Francis  I  127 

He  said  that  he  had  only  made  the  concession  under 
certain  conditions,  which  had  been  infringed  by  the 
invasion  of  the  territories  of  his  vassal  the  Duke  of 
Savoy ;  but  that  he  was,  nevertheless,  willing  to  per- 
form his  promise  in  favour  of  Charles  d'Angouleme; 
and  to  give  him,  moreover,  one  of  his  nieces  in  mar- 
riage. 

The  Cardinal  in  reply  stated  that  his  instructions 
were  to  demand  the  investiture  of  the  Due  d'Orleans ; 
and  that  should  his  imperial  majesty  withhold  his  as- 
sent to  that  arrangement,  he  was  commanded  to  pro- 
ceed to  Rome  to  acquaint  the  sovereign-pontiff  with 
the  failure  of  the  negotiation. 

Charles,  with  a  faint  smile,  which  conveyed  more  of 
contempt  than  courtesy,  merely  retorted  by  bidding 
him  farewell,  and  assuring  him  that  he  should  see  him 
with  pleasure  on  his  return ;  and  thus  civilly  dismissed, 
M.  de  Lorraine  at  once  proceeded  on  his  journey  to 
Rome.  Late  events  had  rendered  the  Emperor  more 
impracticable  than  ever;  and  since  he  had  seen  the 
armies  of  the  Sultan  and  Barbarossa  flee  before  him, 
he  had  begun  to  entertain  the  idea  that  he  was  des- 
tined to  be  invincible ;  a  delusion  in  which  he  was 
strengthened  by  the  predictions  of  the  astrologers,  who 
early  in  the  present  year  (1536)  had  put  forth  the  most 
extraordinary  statements  concerning  him.  What  some 
had  merely  advanced  from  a  desire  of  flattering  his 
vanity,  others  soon  affected  to  confirm  in  order  to  fur- 
ther their  personal  interests;  and  these  extravagant 
fallacies  were  industriously  circulated  throughout 
Europe,  where  they  produced  an  impression  difficult 
to  understand  in  the  present  day. 


128  Reign  of 

Among  others  who  were  infected  with  the  weakness 
of  believing  that  it  was  useless  to  contend  against  one 
whose  destiny  had  been  declared  by  the  stars,  was  the 
Marquis  de  Saluzzo ;  who,  not  content  with  the  mere 
treachery  which  he  meditated,  remained  for  some  time 
with  the  French  troops,  in  order  to  ascertain  their 
proposed  plan  of  operations,  and  thus  to  render  him- 
self more  welcome  to  the  new  master,  to  whom  he  had 
resolved  to  transfer  his  services. 

The  mission  of  the  Cardinal  de  Lorraine  to  the  Pope 
meanwhile  produced  no  effect  upon  the  timid  nature  of 
Paul  III ;  who  admitted  the  justice  of  his  representa- 
tions and  the  bad  faith  of  the  Emperor,  but  persisted 
in  declaring  that  he  should  content  himself  by  remain- 
ing neuter,  and  would  not  engage  either  himself,  or 
the  Roman  states,  in  a  war  which  he  deprecated.  With 
this  unsatisfactory  reply  the  French  Cardinal  was  ac- 
cordingly compelled  to  quit  Rome ;  nor  did  he  fare 
better  upon  his  parting  interview  with  Charles  V,  who 
affected  great  moderation  and  an  earnest  desire  for 
peace ;  but  who  had,  in  fact,  matured  his  plans,  and 
was  about  to  put  them  into  operation. 

In  addition  to  the  astrological  predictions  to  which 
we  have  already  alluded,  the  Emperor  had  been  care- 
ful to  circulate  throughout  Germany  exaggerated  ac- 
counts of  the  cruelties  which  Francis  had  committed 
against  the  Protestants  within  his  kingdom,  already 
sufficiently  atrocious  without  the  aid  of  fiction;  and 
the  detail  was  rendered  the  more  revolting  to  his  Ger- 
man subjects  by  the  assertion  that  all  the  victims  were 
of  their  own  nation ;  that  all  Germans  were  banished 
from  France,  and  that  the  French  King  had  entered 


Francis  I  129 

into  a  league  with  the  Infidels,  by  whom  he  was  to  be 
assisted  in  the  invasion  of  their  empire.  As  the  ne- 
cessity of  disabusing  the  German  people  soon  became 
fearfully  apparent,  Francis  deputed  Guillaume  du  Bel- 
lay  Langei  to  explain  to  them  the  fallacy  of  these  mis- 
chievous misrepresentations ;  and  that  wise  and  up- 
right minister  ultimately  succeeded,  although  not  with- 
out great  difficulty,  in  convincing  them  that  their  cre- 
dulity had  been  abused. 

Meanwhile,  the  Cardinal  de  Lorraine,  on  his  return 
to  France,  had  an  interview  with  the  King  on  the  17th 
of  May,  in  which  he  assured  him  that  there  could  no 
longer  exist  a  doubt,  from  the  preparations  made  by 
the  Emperor,  that  he  meditated  the  invasion  not  only 
of  Piedmont,  but  even  of  France  itself. 

By  a  singular  and  unaccountable  fatality,  Francis 
only  a  short  time  previously,  when  he  should  have  be- 
come more  than  ever  suspicious  of  an  enemy  by  whom 
he  had  been  so  frequently  deceived ;  who  had  wantonly 
insulted  him  in  the  face  of  all  Europe;  and  who  had 
spent  the  last  few  months  in  the  most  active  prepara- 
tions for  war;  had  persisted,  in  defiance  of  his  coun- 
sellors, in  disarming  his  troops  in  Savoy,  as  though 
by  such  means  he  could  compel  a  peace;  but  Mont- 
morenci,  justly  alarmed  by  an  imprudence  which  he 
foresaw  might  involve  the  safety  of  the  kingdom  of 
France,  having  earnestly  represented  the  peril  of  such 
a  measure,  the  King  was  at  length  reluctantly  induced 
to  authorize  him  to  direct  Brion  Chabot,  if  he  desired 
really  to  serve  his  sovereign,  to  fortify  some  of  the 
strongest  places  which  he  then  held,  in  order  that  his 
troops  might  be  secure  of  a  refuge  in  the  event  of  the 
Emperor's  descent  upon  Piedmont. 
Vol.  III.— 9 


130  Reign  of 

Thus  forewarned,  Chabot  lost  no  time  in  fortifying 
Turin,  garrisoning  Ivree  with  a  force  of  two  thousand 
men,  and  planning  a  camp  on  the  P6 ;  after  which 
he  wrote  to  entreat  Francis  not  to  terminate  his  nego- 
tiation with  the  Emperor  for  the  space  of  another 
month,  as  he  should  require  that  time  to  complete  his 
defensive  operations ;  and  the  King  being  anxious  to 
render  Charles  the  aggressor,  convinced  as  he  now 
was  that  he  could  no  longer  avoid  a  renewal  of  hostili- 
ties, at  once  acceded  to  this  arrangement ;  instructing 
Chabot  at  the  same  time  to  abandon  all  idea  of  form- 
ing an  encampment,  and  to  confine  himself  to  the  com- 
pletion of  his  fortifications,  which  were  to  be  further 
strengthened  by  an  immediate  reinforcement  of  fifteen 
thousand  infantry,  and  certain  squadrons  of  horse,  and 
brigades  of  artillery,  each  under  the  command  of  its 
particular  chief,  and  in  readiness  to  march  against  the 
imperialists  at  an  hour's  notice. 

He  also  despatched  instructions  to  the  governors  of 
Picardy  and  Champagne  to  garrison  their  frontier-for- 
tresses with  a  force  of  fourteen  thousand  men,  who 
were  to  await  within  the  walls  such  orders  as  he  might 
find  it  expedient  hereafter  to  issue.  The  defence  of 
Guyenne  was  intrusted  to  the  King  of  Navarre ;  that 
of  Dauphiny  to  M.  d'Humieres,  a  tried  and  brave  gen- 
eral ;  Barbesieux*  was  sent  to  Marseilles  to  protect 
that  city  against  the  anticipated  attack  of  the  Genoese 
admiral,  Doria ;  and  Francis  himself,  once  more  awak- 
ened from  his  dreams  of  pleasure  and  intrigue,  repaired 

•  Antoine  de  la  Rochefoucauld,  Seigneur  de  Barbesieux.  General  of 
the  Galleys  in  1528,  was  a  desceudaiit  of  the  Laugeac  branch  of  that 
distinguished  family.     He  died  in  1537. 


Francis  I  131 

in  person  to  Lyons  with  the  main  body  of  his  army, 
to  resist  the  attempt  of  the  Emperor  to  invade  Prov- 
ence, of  which  he  had  declared  himself  the  sovereign 
by  virtue  of  a  cession  that  he  affirmed  to  have  been 
made  to  him  of  that  province  by  the  Connetable  de 
Bourbon,  as  well  as  by  other  rights  which  he  did  not 
condescend  to  explain. 

Unaware  that  his  descent  upon  this  particular  point 
had  been  anticipated,  Charles  V.  was  prepared  for  an 
easy  conquest.  He  had  or  feigned  to  have,  emissaries 
in  all  the  principal  cities ;  and  confidently  asserted  that 
the  consternation  of  the  inhabitants,  the  weakness  of 
the  several  garrisons,  and  the  dilapidated  condition 
of  the  fortifications,  rendered  his  success  certain.  The 
precautions  which  had  been  hastily  but  efficiently 
taken  were,  however,  destined  to  convince  him  of  his 
error.  The  French  King,  warned  by  past  experience, 
had  left  nothing  to  chance  which  couid  be  secured  by 
prudence.  Marseilles,  Aries,  Tarascon,  and  Beaucaire 
were  all  strongly  defended.  The  minor  cities,  which 
were  unprovided  with  the  means  of  resistance,  were 
swept  of  their  inhabitants ;  the  adjacent  country  was 
laid  waste ;  the  mills,  the  grain,  and  every  agrarian 
edible  which  could  not  be  conveyed  away,  was  burnt, 
and  all  supplies  cut  off  against  the  arrival  of  the  enemy. 
An  encampment  was  then  formed  near  Cavaillon,  be- 
tween the  Rhone  and  the  Durance,  of  which  the  Mare- 
chal  de  Montmorenci  took  the  command,  while  with 
the  other  moiety  of  his  army  Francis  established  his 
own  quarters  at  Valence;  and  thus  prepared,  he 
awaited  the  advent  of  the  imperial  forces. 


CHAPTER  VII, 

The  Emperor  Besieges  Turin — The  Fortress  of  Fossano  is 
Entrusted  by  Francis  I.  to  the  Marquis  de  Saluzzo — He 
Impedes  the  Progress  of  the  Works — The  French  Officers 
Suspect  His  Good  Faith — He  Retires  to  Ravel — He  Betrays 
His  Trust — Antonio  da  Leyva  Invests  Fossano — The  Marquis 
de  Saluzzo  is  Appointed  the  Emperor's  Lieutenant  Beyond 
the  Alps — Charles  V.  Invades  Provence — M.  de  Montejan 
is  Surprised  and  Made  Prisoner  by  the  Imperialists — Empty 
Boasting  of  the  Emperor — Death  of  the  Dauphin  by  Poison 
— Trial  and  Execution  of  MontecucuUi — Francis  Accuses 
the  Imperialists  of  Instigating  the  Murder — Indignation  of 
Charles  V.  and  His  Generals — Catherine  de'  Medici  is  in 
Her  Turn  Accused  by  Da  Leyva — Progress  of  the  Imperial 
Army — The  Emperor  Enters  Aix — Prince  Henry  Joins  the 
French  Camp — Marseilles  Successfully  Resists  the  Impe- 
rialists— Francis  Determines  to  Head  the  Army  in  Person 
— He  is  Dissuaded  by  His  Generals — Doria  Supplies  the  Em- 
peror's Camp — Retreat  of  Charles  V. — The  Tower  of  Muy 
— The  Imperial  Forces  Establish  Themselves  in  Savoy — 
The  Emperor  Proceeds  to  Spain — Is  Overtaken  by  a  Storm 
— The  Victor  and  the  Vanquished. 


THESE  measures  were  by  no  means  premature ;  as 
Charles,  having  engaged  to  re-establish  the 
Duke  of  Savoy  in  his  dominions,  had  already  de- 
spatched an  army  under  the  command  of  Antonio  da 
Leyva  to  besiege  Turin,  while  Francis  had  instructed 
his  generals  to  abandon  all  their  other  conquests  in 

132 


Francis  I  133 

Piedmont,  and  to  confine  their  operations  to  ensuring 
the  security  of  that  city,  and  the  fortresses  of  Coni  and 
Fossano ;  the  latter  of  which  places  he  confided  to  the 
keeping  of  the  Marquis  de  Saluzzo,  with  strict  direc- 
tions to  increase  its  strength  and  means  of  resistance 
to  the  utmost  extent  of  his  abilities. 

We  have  already  recorded  the  meditated  treachery  of 
the  Marquis;  who  accordingly  no  sooner  found  him- 
self in  a  position  to  serve  his  new  sovereign,  than  he 
commenced  his  operations  by  impeding  the  exertions 
of  the  engineers,  preventing  the  entrance  of  provisions 
and  ammunition  into  the  town,  and  delaying  by  every 
subterfuge  which  he  could  invent,  the  efforts  of  the 
French  oflficers  to  complete  the  defence  of  the  place. 
Suspicions  of  his  good  faith,  however,  were  soon  en- 
tertained ;  and,  alarmed  by  the  hostile  demonstrations 
of  those  about  him,  he  abruptly  withdrew  to  his  estate 
at  Raval,  declaring  that,  as  his  authority  was  not  recog- 
nised, he  would  not  be  responsible  for  the  result. 

Baffled  at  Turin,  he  no  sooner  found  himself  beyond 
the  vengeance  of  the  French  ofificers  than  he  wrote  to 
apprise  the  imperialist  general  of  the  unprotected  state 
of  Fossano,  and  to  urge  him  to  take  possession  of  the 
fortress  before  the  enemy  had  time  to  strengthen  it. 
Antonio  da  Leyva  did  not  hesitate  for  an  instant ;  but 
availing  himself  of  this  unexpected  and  welcome  in- 
telligence, he  left  a  force  of  ten  thousand  horse  and  a 
few  squadrons  of  cavalry  before  Turin,  under  the  com- 
mand of  his  lieutenant,  and  marched  upon  the  betrayed 
city,  before  which  he  sat  down,  in  the  full  conviction 
that  it  would  become  an  easy  prey. 

Ill-supplied  and  unprepared  as  they  were,  however, 


134  Reign  of 

the  garrison  defended  themselves  with  great  courage 
and  pertinacity ;  and  even  when  they  were  compelled 
to  capitulate,  from  the  utter  hopelessness  of  overcom- 
ing a  force  which  quadrupled  their  own,  and  which  was 
moreover  well  provided  both  with  provisions  and  ar- 
tillery, they  stipulated  that  they  should  hold  the  for- 
tress for  the  space  of  a  month  longer,  at  the  termina- 
tion of  which  time  they  were  to  vacate  it  if  they  failed 
to  receive  succour  from  without.  As  he  believed  all 
external  aid  to  be  impossible  at  the  moment.  Da  Leyva 
consented  to  these  terms,  and  meanwhile  attempted 
the  conquest  of  the  two  other  towns  in  the  neighbour- 
hood, but  without  success ;  and  a  few  days  before  that 
which  had  been  named  for  the  surrender  of  Fossano, 
the  Emperor  arrived  in  person  at  Savillano,  where  he 
accepted  the  fealty  of  the  Marquis  de  Saluzzo,  and 
appointed  him  his  lieutenant  beyond  the  Alps. 

Then  and  there  it  was  that  Charles  V.,  intoxicated 
by  his  late  successes,  imparted  to  his  generals  the  de- 
sign which  he  had  formed  of  invading  Provence ;  nor 
would  he  be  turned  from  his  purpose  either  by  their 
sober  arguments  or  their  vehement  expostulations. 
In  vain  did  Antonio  da  Leyva  even  kneel  at  his  feet, 
imploring  him  not  to  endanger  his  military  reputation 
by  so  dangerous  a  measure ;  he  remained  deaf  to  every 
persuasion,  and  made  immediate  preparations  for  car- 
rying his  intention  into  effect.  His  army  consisted  of 
ten  thousand  horse,  and  between  forty  and  fifty  thou- 
sand infantry ;  a  force  with  which,  as  we  have  already 
stated,  he  anticipated  that  he  should  be  enabled  with- 
out difficulty  to  possess  himself  of  the  whole  province, 
and  thus  secure  ingress  to  the  very  heart  of  the  French 


Francis  I  135 

dominions.  He  accordingly  passed  the  Var  on  the 
25th  of  July,  and  at  the  head  of  his  troops  marched  to 
Saint  Laurent,  the  first  town  on  the  French  frontier, 
where  he  planted  his  standards,  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence for  a  short  time,  in  order  to  await  the  arrival  of 
the  fleet  under  Andrea  Doria,  which  was  freighted 
with  ample  supplies  for  the  invading  army. 

After  his  temporary  halt  at  Saint  Laurent,  the  Em- 
peror pursued  his  march  to  Provence,  and  advanced 
without  encountering  the  slightest  opposition  until  he 
reached  the  village  of  Tourbes,  situated  between  Brig- 
nolles  and  St.  Maximin,  where  he  surprised  a  small 
force  under  M.  de  Montejan,*  and  Boisy,  the  son  of 
the  late  Admiral  Bonnivet,  who  being  unprepared  for 
his  immediate  approach,  and  unable  to  contend  against 
an  enemy  so  formidable,  were,  after  a  bold  but  inef- 
fectual struggle,  during  which  the  whole  of  their  little 
band  amounting  to  no  more  than  five  hundred  men 
were  cut  to  pieces,  themselves  made  prisoners  by  the 
imperialists.  This  mischance  was  rendered  the  more 
mortifying  from  the  fact,  that  these  two  imprudent 
young  nobles,  wearied  of  inaction,  had  obtained  the 
reluctant  consent  of  Montmorenci  to  indulge  that  taste 
for  adventure  so  prevalent  at  the  time,  and  so  destruc- 
tive of  good  discipline,  and  to  sally  forth  in  search  of 

*  The  Mar^chal  de  Montejan  was  an  officer  of  great  courage,  but  vain 
and  impetuous;  and  who  was,  in  consequence,  frequently  compared  to 
M.  de  Lautrec.  Having  occasion,  while  acting  as  the  King's  lieutenant 
in  Piedmont,  to  carry  on  a  negotiation  with  the  Marquis  del  Guasto,  he 
pushed  his  arrogance  so  far  as  to  propose  that  they  should  treat  through 
the  medium  of  ambassadors,  an  arrangement  which  was  carried  into 
eftect,  to  the  great  indignation  of  Francis  I.,  who  reprimanded  him 
severely  for  assuming  the  state  and  privilege  of  a  crowned  head;  nor, 
although  he  availed  himself  of  his  courage  and  experience  as  a  general, 
did  he  ever  again  restore  him  to  favour. 


136  Reign  of 

adventures ;  their  object  being  to  harass  the  skirmish- 
ing parties  of  the  enemy,  and,  if  possible,  to  gain  the 
first  laurels  won  during  the  campaign ;  and  thus, 
through  their  own  idle  folly,  they  forfeited  all  future 
hope  of  assisting  in  the  war. 

The  intelligence  of  their  capture  was  a  source  of 
great  annoyance  to  the  King,  who  immediately  fore- 
saw that  his  vainglorious  adversary  would  profit  by 
the  circumstance  to  assert  that  he  had  beaten  the 
French  on  their  first  encounter;  but  the  event  even 
exceeded  his  previsions,  as  Charles,  anxious  to  main- 
tain the  prestige  which  had  attached  to  him  since  his 
recent  triumphs,  caused  it  to  be  reported  throughout 
Europe  that  he  had  slaughtered  or  driven  back  the 
whole  vanguard  of  the  French  army. 

This  comparatively  unimportant  incident  was,  how- 
ever, fated  to  be  soon  obliterated  from  the  mind  of 
Francis,  by  the  deepest  calamity  which  had  yet  be- 
fallen him.  The  Dauphin,  after  an  illness  of  only  four 
days,  had  ceased  to  exist.  This  Prince,  then  only  in 
his  nineteenth  year,  had  already,  by  the  urbanity  of  his 
disposition,  his  literary  attainments,  and  his  calm  and 
lofty  courage,  greatly  endeared  himself  to  all  by  whom 
he  was  approached.  The  only  defect  which  he  had 
inherited  from  his  royal  father  was  an  inordinate  love 
of  dissipation ;  and  besides  his  accredited  mistress,  the 
beautiful  Mademoiselle  de  Lestrange,  he  indulged  in 
other  intrigues  less  public.  This  error  was,  however, 
counterbalanced  by  so  many  amiable  qualities  that  it 
did  not  avail  to  weaken  his  popularity ;  and  even  Fran- 
cis himself  had  begun  to  express  his  satisfaction  that 
the  Spaniard  had  at  length  been  converted  into  a 


Francis  I  137 

Frenchman.  The  Dauphin  had  recently  joined  the 
army  at  Lyons,  where  he  had  been  welcomed  with  en- 
thusiasm ;  and  the  rejoicings  consequent  on  his  arrival 
were  not  yet  over  when  he  was  attacked  by  the  illness 
which  terminated  his  existence. 

His  death  was  at  first  attributed  to  his  imprudence 
in  having,  when  heated  at  tennis,  drunk  a  copious 
draught  of  water ;  but  he  had  no  sooner  expired  than 
symptoms  of  poison  became  apparent  which  awoke 
the  most  sinister  suspicions.  He  was,  moreover,  in 
the  constant  habit  of  drinking  water  almost  to  excess, 
under  circumstances  which  would  have  rendered  such 
an  indulgence  fatal  to  most  constitutions ;  and  this 
propensity  was  so  well  known,  that  Donna  Anna 
Beatrix  de  Pacheco,  one  of  the  maids  of  honour  to 
Queen  Eleonora,  had  presented  to  him  an  earthen  vase, 
of  a  peculiar  clay  which  induced  an  effervescence  in 
the  water  without  divesting  it  of  its  coolness,  and  which 
she  had  brought  with  her  from  Portugal. 

The  unhappy  Dauphin  had,  as  we  have  mentioned 
above,  been  engaged  at  tennis ;  and  the  weather  being 
sultry,  he  suffered  so  severely  from  the  heat,  that  the 
moment  the  game  was  concluded  he  desired  one  of 
his  pages  to  bring  him  a  draught  of  water.  The  youth 
hastened  to  obey  his  commands,  and  as  there  chanced 
to  be  a  well  in  the  meadow  which  had  been  selected 
for  the  sport,  he  at  once  lowered  the  bucket,  placing 
the  vase  from  which  the  Prince  constantly  drank  upon 
the  margin  of  the  well,  while  he  drew  up  the  water. 
The  weight  causing  him  to  be  somewhat  tardy  in  this 
operation,  it  was  soon  remembered  that  the  Comte 
Sebastian  de  Montecuculli,  a  nobleman  of  Ferrara, 


138  Reign  of 

who  had  been  appointed  sewer  in  the  household  of  the 
Dauphin,  had  approached  the  spot  as  if  with  the  in- 
tention of  hastening  his  movements,  but  without  inter- 
fering to  assist  him ;  and  as  no  other  individual  was 
near  the  spring  at  the  time,  the  fatal  event  which  after- 
wards took  place  was  attributed  to  his  agency  by  all 
who  were  aware  of  this  circumstance. 

Having  drawn  the  water,  the  page  without  waiting 
to  rinse  the  vase  plunged  it  into  the  bucket,  and  carried 
it  to  the  Prince,  who  in  accordance  with  his  usual  habit 
emptied  it  at  a  draught.  In  a  few  seconds  he  com- 
plained of  giddiness  and  intense  pain;  frightful  con- 
vulsions supervened ;  nor  could  all  the  science  of  his 
physicians  afford  him  the  slightest  relief.  It  had  been 
previously  arranged  that  he  should  leave  Lyons  early 
on  the  following  morning  for  Tournon,  in  order  to 
join  the  King  who  had  halted  in  that  city  on  his  way  to 
Valence;  nor  could  the  entreaties  of  his  friends  dis- 
suade him  from  persisting  in  his  purpose.  The  only 
concession  which  they  could  obtain  was,  that  he  would 
abandon  the  idea  of  pursuing  his  journey  on  horse- 
back, and  proceed  by  water;  but  this  exertion,  miti- 
gated as  it  was,  probably  hastened  his  death,  for  he  had 
scarcely  reached  the  presence  of  his  father,  when  he 
sank  exhausted  into  the  arms  of  his  attendants,  and  in 
a  few  hours  expired. 

During  the  first  paroxysm  of  his  anguish  none  dared 
to  inform  the  King  of  the  peculiar  symptoms  exhibited 
by  the  disorder  of  the  Prince ;  but  ere  long  the  exist- 
ence of  arsenic,  which  was  discovered  in  his  body, 
rendered  all  further  prospect  of  concealment  hopeless ; 
still,  even  when  the  fact  was  ascertained  beyond  all 


Francis  I  139 

doubt,  each  of  the  attendants  shrank  from  revealing 
the  fatal  truth.  It  was  soon  evident,  however,  that 
Francis  had  himself  become  suspicious  that  his  son 
was  the  victim  of  an  assassin  ;  and  the  hesitation  of  the 
court  physicians  was  terminated  by  his  vehement  ques- 
tionings; for  as  during  their  passage  up  the  Rhone, 
they  had  strictly  watched  every  phase  of  the  disease, 
and  conferred  together  upon  its  nature,  they  deemed 
it  expedient  at  length  to  request  the  Cardinal  de  Lor- 
raine to  communicate  to  the  King  their  solemn  convic- 
tion that  the  Dauphin  had  died  by  poison. 

At  this  confirmation  of  his  own  misgivings  the  an- 
guish of  the  parent  yielded  to  the  indignation  of  the 
sovereign ;  and  averting  his  face  from  the  death-bed, 
Francis  sternly  commanded  all  who  were  present,  as 
they  valued  their  heads,  to  point  out  to  him  the  sus- 
pected author  of  the  crime.  Thus  adjured,  more  than 
one  of  the  Dauphin's  attendants  were  prepared  to  ac- 
cuse Montecuculli ;  and  the  King  had  no  sooner  heard 
the  grounds  upon  which  the  accusation  was  based  than 
he  made  instant  preparations  for  his  return  to  Lyons, 

Montecuculli  was  immediately  arrested ;  and,  under 
the  agony  of  the  question,  the  wretched  man  admitted 
his  guilt ;  but  whether  from  compunction,  or  in  order 
to  escape  the  torments  to  which  he  was  subjected,  it 
would  be  now  impossible  to  decide.  Thus  much  is 
certain,  however,  that  he  not  only  confessed  to  the  mur- 
der of  the  Prince,  and  declared  that  while  the  page 
was  drawing  up  the  water,  he  had  flung  arsenic  into 
the  vase,  but  even  added,  that  it  was  his  intention  to 
destroy  the  King  himself  and  his  two  remaining  sons 
by  the  same  means. 


140  Reign  of 

When  questioned  as  to  his  motive  for  committing 
such  deadly  crimes,  he  replied  that  he  had  been  insti- 
gated to  them  by  Antonio  da  Leyva  and  Ferdinand  de 
Gonzaga;*  asserting,  moreover,  that  they  had,  like 
himself,  acted  under  superior  authority.  Although  the 
miserable  culprit  (if  such,  indeed,  he  were)  never  once 
directly  accused  the  Emperor  by  name,  as  the  author- 
ity to  which  he  alluded,  he  nevertheless  left  no  doubt 
of  his  meaning,  by  entering  into  details  which  tended 
to  implicate  him  in  the  crime.  Among  other  circum- 
stances, he  stated  that  on  one  occasion  when  he  had  an 
audience  of  Charles  V.  that  monarch  had  expressed 
considerable  curiosity  as  to  the  diet  of  the  French 
King,  and  his  habits  at  table ;  an  assertion  which  ac- 
quired additional  importance  from  the  fact  that,  only 
a  short  time  previous  to  the  death  of  the  Dauphin,  Don 
Lopez  de  Soria,  the  imperial  Ambassador  at  Venice, 
had  inquired  who  would  become  King  of  France  in  the 
event  of  the  demise  of  the  reigning  sovereign  and  his 
sons. 

Francis  convened  a  council,  before  whom  the  con- 
fession of  the  culprit  was  read,  and  by  whom  his  con- 
demnation was  instantly  pronounced.     He  was  sen- 

•  Ferdinand  de  Gonzaga  was  the  representative  of  a  noble  family  of 
Parma,  whose  ancestor,  Louis  I.,  became,  on  the  death  of  Passerino 
Buonacolsi  (in  the  14th  century).  Count  of  Mantua;  Jean-Francois,  the 
great-grandson  of  Louis,  was  created  Marquis  of  Mantua  in  1503;  and 
finally,  the  marquisate  was  erected  into  a  duchy  for  Ferdinand  in  1530. 
This  Prince  commanded  the  Spanish  troops  at  the  siege  of  Florence ; 
was  Colonel-General  of  the  light-horse  under  the  Due  de  Bourbon; 
became  viceroy  of  Sicily ;  accompanied  the  Emperor  on  his  invasion  of 
France,  as  his  lieutenant-general;  and  was  finally  appointed  prime  min- 
ister to  the  son  of  his  sovereign  in  Flanders,  whom  he  served  as  faith- 
fully as  he  had  previously  served  his  father.  He  died  full  of  years  and 
honours,  with  the  proud  boast  of  having  gained  many  battles,  and  never 
lost  a  fortress. 


Francis  I  141 

tenced  to  be  first  scourged,  and  then  torn  to  pieces  by 
horses. 

Thus  far,  even  barbarous  as  such  a  sentence  un- 
doubtedly was  after  the  fearful  tortures  which  the 
wretched  culprit  had  already  undergone,  some  excuse 
may  be  found  for  the  King  in  the  fact  that  he  had  not 
only  been  deprived  of  his  first-born  son  by  the  most 
cruel  means,  but  that  his  own  life,  and  those  of  the  two 
younger  Princes,  had  likewise  been  menaced — and 
this,  moreover,  by  an  agent  of  his  most  hated  enemy ; 
but  surely  nothing  can  extenuate  the  fact,  that,  not 
content  with  a  description  of  the  dying  agonies  of  the 
victim  of  his  vengeance,  he  resolved  to  become  a  spec- 
tator of  the  hideous  scene,  and  even  commanded  the 
attendance  of  the  Princes  of  the  blood,  the  prelates,  the 
foreign  ambassadors,  and  all  the  men  of  rank  then  resi- 
dent in  Lyons.  Nay  more,  if  the  evidence  of  Roederer 
is  to  be  credited,  the  court  ladies  themselves  were  not 
exempted  from  this  revolting  spectacle;  nor  was  the 
vengeance  of  the  King  appeased  until  he  had  seen  the 
mangled  remains  of  the  culprit  torn  into  fragments  by 
the  infuriated  populace. 

At  the  close  of  the  execution,  Francis  addressed  cir- 
culars to  the  Protestant  Princes,  informing  them  of  all 
the  details  of  the  murder,  and  the  fate  of  the  murderer ; 
and  in  these  letters  he  openly  accused  the  two  imperial- 
ist generals  of  having  instigated  Montecuculli  to  the 
commission  of  the  crime  for  which  he  had  suffered. 
Charles  V.  resented,  with  the  deepest  indignation,  an 
accusation  which  he  could  not  but  feel  was  directed 
against  himself ;  and  declared  that  he  would  rather  have 
forfeited  his  empire  than  have  had  his  name  implicated 


142  Reign  of 

in  so  heinous  and  revolting  a  crime;  while  Gonzaga 
and  Da  Leyva,  with  still  more  vehemence,  protested 
that  were  MontecucuUi  still  alive,  they  would  prove 
their  innocence  by  meeting  him  in  arms,  as  they  were 
now  willing  and  anxious  to  do  all  those  who  should 
dare  to  affix  so  foul  a  stain  upon  their  honour.  Nor 
were  they  satisfied  with  mere  self-exculpation ;  for, 
after  demanding  to  know  what  benefit  could  have 
accrued  either  to  their  imperial  master  or  themselves 
by  the  extirpation  of  the  royal  family  of  France,  they 
retorted  by  throwing  the  guilt  of  the  assassination  upon 
Catherine  de'  Medici,  who,  by  the  death  of  the  elder 
Prince,  became  Dauphiness,  and  stood  upon  the  very 
step  of  the  throne. 

In  ordinary  cases  such  an  accusation  would  have 
been  as  incredible  as  it  was  monstrous ;  but  her  early 
education,  her  known  subtlety,  and  her  undisguised 
ambition,  rendered  the  niece  of  the  Pontiff,  young  as 
she  was,  so  obnoxious  to  suspicion,  that  there  were 
not  wanting  many,  even  in  France,  who  believed  her 
to  be  guilty. 

Throughout  the  whole  commencement  of  its  march, 
the  imperial  army  had  been  enabled  to  subsist  upon 
the  hoards  made  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  several  vil- 
lages devastated  by  order  of  the  French  marshal,  in 
order  to  arrest  its  progress  by  famine;  the  unhappy 
peasantry  having  hidden  away  their  stores  of  grain 
and  wine  in  the  caves  and  forests,  in  the  vain  hope  of 
securing  them  until  the  contending  armies  should  have 
vacated  their  immediate  neighbourhood;  but  these 
secret  depositories,  which  had  escaped  the  hurried  re- 
searches of  the  French  troops,  owing  to  their  eager- 


Francis  I  143 

ness  to  lay  all  waste  before  the  advent  of  the  enemy, 
did  not  succeed  in  eluding  the  more  anxious  eyes  of 
the  imperiahsts ;  who,  having  once  discovered  that  the 
agrarian  wealth  of  the  province  had  been  rather  dis- 
placed than  destroyed,  instituted  a  perpetual  survey, 
which,  as  we  have  stated,  rendered  them  independent 
of  the  precautions  of  Montmorenci, 

Doria  had,  moreover,  taken  possession  of  the  port 
of  Toulon ;  and  had  even  announced  to  the  Emperor 
the  practicability  of  navigating  the  Rhone  with  his 
galleys,  and  of  assuring  to  the  invading  army  all  the 
supplies  of  which  it  might  stand  in  need.  In  this 
endeavour  he,  however,  found  himself  frustrated ;  and 
as  the  French  troops  persisted  in  remaining  within 
their  entrenchments,  and  the  cachettes  of  the  peasantry 
became  exhausted,  Charles  no  sooner  found  himself 
in  the  plain,  surrounded  by  dismantled  cities  aban- 
doned villages,  and  a  devastated  country,  with  the  ene- 
my entrenched  at  Avignon,  and  no  chance  of  supplies 
save  from  Toulon,  (which  he  was  aware  must  be  cut 
ofif  before  they  could  reach  him,)  than  he  resolved  to 
avert  the  famine  which  stared  him  in  the  face  by  com- 
pelling an  engagement. 

He  consequently  encamped  in  the  middle  of  August 
before  Aix,  where  the  increasing  necessities  of  his 
troops  induced  him  to  enter  the  city,  which  he  did, 
asserting  that  as  the  suzerain  of  Aries  and  Provence, 
he  took  possession  of  the  capital  by  that  right.  He, 
however,  found  only  a  desert  where  he  had  looked  to 
possess  himself  of  a  flourishing  and  wealthy  popula- 
tion. Not  only  the  Archbishop  and  his  clergy  had 
abandoned  the  place,  but  also  the  judicial  officers  and 


144  Reign  of 

the  principal  inhabitants;  and  although  by  virtue  of 
the  claim  he  had  advanced  he  summoned  them  to  re- 
turn, as  they  made  no  response  to  his  citation,  he  de- 
livered over  the  town  to  pillage ;  and  before  its  final 
abandonment  on  the  13th  of  September,  issued  an 
order  for  the  destruction  by  fire  of  the  Palace  of  Jus- 
tice, at  the  request  of  the  Duke  of  Savoy,  who  accom- 
panied his  army,  and  who  was  anxious  to  revenge  the 
excesses  of  which  the  French  troops  had  been  guilty 
in  Piedmont. 

Baffled  in  his  hopes  of  establishing  his  permanent 
headquarters  at  Aix,  and  of  securing  by  such  means 
the  revictualling  of  his  army,  Charles  discovered  that 
he  had  no  alternative  save  to  possess  himself  of  Aries 
or  Marseilles.  The  camp  of  Montmorenci  was  too  well 
defended  to  encourage  an  attack;  and  although  the 
position  of  Aries  was  favourable  to  his  enterprise, 
should  the  siege  prove  tardy  he  was  aware  that  the 
famine  which  had  already  commenced  in  his  ranks 
must  inevitably  militate  against  his  success,  while,  even 
should  he  make  himself  master  of  the  city,  he  might 
find  it  as  utterly  devastated  as  Aix;  whereas  in  the 
event  of  his  taking  Marseilles,  the  fleet  of  Andrea 
Doria  could  in  a  few  hours  arrive  to  his  relief. 

Henry,  Due  d'Orleans,  now  Dauphin  of  France,  had 
meanwhile  joined  the  French  army  at  Valence,  and  was 
no  sooner  apprised  that  the  Emperor  had  caused  his 
Hght-horsemen  to  reconnoitre  the  camp  at  Avignon, 
than  he  earnestly  entreated  the  King  to  allow  him  to 
join  the  Marechal  de  Montmorenci,  and  to  share  in 
the  honours  of  the  engagement  which  appeared  inevit- 
able.   But  Francis,  who  had  been  so  lately  bereft  of 


Francis  I  145 

one  son,  trembled  at  the  prospect  of  losing  a  second ; 
and  for  a  considerable  time  he  firmly  refused  to  allow 
the  Prince  to  separate  himself  from  his  own  person. 
His  importunities  were,  however,  so  vehement  and 
so  unceasing,  that  the  King  at  length  yielded,  only 
enjoining  him  with  great  earnestness  to  obey  under 
all  circumstances  the  dictates  of  Montmorenci;  who 
would,  as  he  declared,  while  he  guarded  the  honour 
of  the  Dauphin  as  jealously  as  his  own,  be  even  more 
careful  oi  his  safety.  Moreover,  with  a  prudence 
which,  in  so  haughty  and  despotic  a  monarch  as  Fran- 
cis I,  sufficiently  revealed  his  anxiety,  he  bade  the 
enthusiastic  young  Prince  remember  that  he  held  no 
official  rank  in  the  army  which  he  was  about  to  join ; 
but  that  he  would  be  a  mere  volunteer,  who  could  as- 
sume no  authority  whatever,  and  who  must  be  con- 
tented to  obey,  in  order  that  he  might  hereafter  be 
competent  to  command. 

Satisfied  with  his  success,  the  Dauphin  promised  all 
that  his  royal  father  required ;  and  attended  by  several 
of  his  personal  friends,  he  at  once  took  leave  of  the 
King,  and  proceeded  to  the  camp,  where  he  was  re- 
ceived with  the  same  enthusiasm  which  had  only  a 
few  weeks  previously  greeted  the  appearance  of  his 
murdered  brother. 

As  we  have  shown,  however,  the  Emperor  aban- 
doned all  idea  of  attacking  Montmorenci ;  and  the  total 
pillage  of  a  supply  which  had  been  landed  at  Toulon 
by  Doria,  and  which  became  the  prey  of  the  impov- 
erished peasantry,  convinced  him  that  he  must  at  once 
compel  an  engagement,  or  abandon  his  hitherto  abor- 
tive enterprise. 

Vol.  III.— 10 


146  Reign  of 

He  first,  therefore,  proceeded  to  Marseilles;  but 
after  two  or  three  hostile  demonstrations,  he  discov- 
ered that  all  attempts  to  take  the  city  would  prove 
utterly  vain.  In  addition  to  a  garrison  of  seven  thou- 
sand men,  there  were  thirteen  galleys  in  the  port ;  while 
his  own  troops,  famished  for  want  of  proper  and  whole- 
some nourishment,  threw  themselves  eagerly  upon  the 
grapes,  and  even  the  immature  fruits  by  which  they 
were  surrounded,  and  soon  added  to  the  horrors  of 
famine  the  sufferings  of  dysentery.  Within  one  month 
a  third  of  his  army  perished,  and  among  the  rest  his 
brave  and  faithful  general  Antonio  da  Leyva;  while 
the  forces  of  the  French  King  were  augmented  by  a 
reinforcement  of  twenty  thousand  Swiss  and  six  thou- 
sand Germans. 

He  was  next  compelled  to  abandon  the  siege  of 
Aries;  for  although  its  position,  in  the  midst  of 
heights  by  which  it  was  commanded,  appeared  at  the 
first  glance  to  afford  great  facilities  to  a  besieging 
army,  the  Emperor  soon  ascertained  that  it  was  not 
only  strongly  and  efficiently  fortified,  but  that  it  con- 
tained within  its  walls  some  of  the  first  chivalry  of 
France. 

Nothing  was  consequently  left  for  Charles  save  an 
open  battle  or  a  precipitate  retreat;  while  as  no  one 
for  a  moment  suspected  that  he  would  adopt  the  lat- 
ter alternative,  the  enthusiasm  in  all  ranks  of  the 
French  army  was  excited  to  the  highest  pitch;  and 
the  King  himself,  who  had  hitherto  remained  at  Val- 
ence, in  compliance  with  the  advice  and  entreaties  of 
his  generals,  summoned  a  council,  at  which  he  ex- 
pressed his  determination  to  join  the  main  body  at 


Francis  I  147 

Avignon,  in  order  to  be  present  at  the  forthcoming 
engagement. 

In  vain  did  Montmorenci,  so  soon  as  he  was  apprised 
of  this  resolution,  entreat  Francis  not  to  expose  his 
person  unnecessarily;  and  implore  him  not  to  incur 
the  risk  of  involving  the  kingdom  in  inevitable  con- 
fusion in  the  event  of  his  death  or  capture,  while  by 
remaining  at  Valence  the  result  of  a  victory  must  be 
equally  honourable  to  him,  without  involving  the  same 
contingencies ;  in  vain  did  he  represent  that  the  pres- 
ent opportunity  was  unusually  favourable  for  the  first 
essay  in  arms  of  the  Dauphin;  and  express  his  con- 
viction that  the  young  Prince,  with  the  assistance  of 
his  own  experience  and  that  of  the  principal  generals, 
would  win  honour  to  himself  and  to  the  French  name 
by  convincing  the  Emperor  that  the  subjects  of  his 
Majesty  were  invincible  upon  their  own  soil ;  the  reso- 
lution of  the  King  remained  unshaken. 

Equally  unavailing  were  the  assurances  of  the  Mare- 
chal  that  the  Emperor  was  no  longer  in  a  position  to 
maintain  his  ground ;  and  that,  decimated  as  his  camp 
had  become  by  disease  and  famine,  he  must  of  neces- 
sity retreat  should  their  own  troops  refuse  to  give  him 
immediate  battle.  The  hour  of  forbearance  was  past, 
and  Francis  refused  to  defer  to  his  arguments,  Du 
Bellay  added  his  entreaties  to  those  of  Montmorenci, 
but  with  no  better  success.  Still,  however,  the  Mare- 
chal  ventured  to  insist ;  and  he  was  prompted  to  this 
pertinacity  by  the  fact  that  a  superstitious  feeling  had 
grown  up  in  the  French  army  that  the  presence  of  the 
King  upon  any  field  of  battle  would  inevitably  entail 
defeat ;  an  unfortunate  and  mortifying  belief  which 
the  monarch  was  naturally  anxious  to  eradicate. 


148  Reign  of 

"  Enough,  my  lords,  enough,"  exclaimed  Francis 
impatiently,  "  On  the  faith  of  a  gentleman !  it  shall 
never  be  said  that  while  my  arch-enemy  is  at  the  head 
of  his  armies,  sword  in  hand,  I  am  content  to  remain 
cooped  up  within  the  walls  of  Valence,  as  though  I 
feared  to  beard  him  on  my  own  territories.  No,  Sirs ; 
harangue  as  you  may,  I  will  go  forth  to  meet  him ; 
and  perchance  the  duel  of  which  he  hath  made  such 
loud  bruits  throughout  all  Christendom,  may  chance  to 
be  foughten  when  he  least  expects  it.  I  am  well 
aware  that  many  among  you  who  are  endeavouring  to 
dissuade  me  from  what  I  hold  to  be  a  right  royal  duty, 
are  infected  by  a  frivolous  superstition,  to  which,  as  a 
Christian  King,  I  cannot  yield  my  faith.  My  con- 
fidence is  in  God:  he  alone  rules  the  destinies  alike  of 
individuals  and  of  armies." 

On  the  following  morning,  Francis,  after  having  at- 
tended the  early  mass,  accordingly  embarked  upon  the 
Rhone,  and  proceeded  to  Avignon,  having  left  a  strong 
garrison  for  the  protection  of  Valence;  and  despite 
the  disparaging  apprehensions  of  his  army,  he  was 
received  with  joyous  acclamations,  and  entered  the 
camp  with  a  brilliant  staff,  escorted  by  the  whole  of 
the  gendarmerie,  who  had  hastened  to  meet  him. 

At  this  period  Doria  had  succeeded  in  landing  and 
forwarding  supplies  to  the  Emperor,  which  enabled 
him  to  silence  the  murmurs  of  his  troops,  and  to  in- 
spire them  in  some  degree  with  renovated  hope ;  but 
the  evil  had  taken  too  deep  a  root;  and  while  the 
French  were  hourly  expecting  the  engagement  for 
which  they  had  long  panted,  Martin  du  Bellay  Langei, 
who  had  been  sent  to  reconnoitre  the  movements  of 


Francis  I  149 

the  enemy,  returned  with  the  astounding  intelligence 
that  the  imperialists  were  in  full  retreat ;  and  that,  in 
order  to  facilitate  their  march,  they  had  abandoned  all 
their  sick  and  wounded. 

The  accuracy  of  this  statement  was  soon  proved ; 
for,  on  the  entrance  of  Francis  and  his  troops  into  the 
deserted  camp,  a  most  frightful  spectacle  presented  it- 
self. Nevertheless,  Montmorenci  refused  to  pursue  the 
retreating  enemy;  he  dreaded  lest  the  hunted  lion 
should  turn  to  bay,  and  that  in  the  extremity  of  his 
despair  he  should  sacrifice  himself  rather  than  not 
wreak  his  fury  on  his  enemy.  Peronne  was  moreover 
menaced,  and  he  was  compelled  to  detach  a  strong 
force  to  its  assistance.  He  consequently  contented 
himself,  so  soon  as  he  had  ascertained  that  the  Em- 
peror was  on  his  march  towards  Flanders,  by  despatch- 
ing the  light-horse  under  the  command  of  the  Comte 
de  Tende,*  Du  Bellay  Langei,  and  Bonnivet,  to  harass 
his  rear-guard,  by  which  means  a  great  slaughter  of 
the  imperialists  took  place,  as  the  flank  squadrons  cut 
ofT  all  the  foraging  parties  that  were  detached  from  the 
main  body,  sparing  neither  men  nor  horses ;  until  the 
road  between  Aix  and  Frejus  was  strewn  with  arms 
and  baggage,  the  wounded  and  the  dead. 

This  was  not  the  only  impediment,  however,  which 
the  Emperor  experienced  to  his  retreat;   for,  as  his 

*  The  Comte  de  Tende  was  a  gallant  soldier,  who  was  Colonel  of  the 
Swiss  troops  in  Naples;  and  subsequently  Governor  of  Provence,  where 
he  rendered  good  service  to  the  King,  until  he  became  suspected  of 
Lutheranism,  which  faith  his  wife  openly  professed.  The  Proven<;al9 
then  rebelled  against  his  authority,  and  caused  him  to  be  replaced  by 
his  son,  the  Comte  de  Sommerive;  declaring  that  Provence  was  de- 
stroyed by  three  equal  plagues  ;  the  winds,  the  Durance,  and  the  Comtesse 
de  Tende;  the  first  overthrowing  everything,  the  second  flooding  every- 
thing, and  the  third  perverting  everything. 


150  Reign  of 

troops  were  defiling  beneath  a  tower  of  the  village  of 
Muy,  which  he  had  supposed  to  be  abandoned,  some 
peasants  who  had  taken  refuge  there,  upon  seeing  the 
splendid  train  of  the  Spanish  leader  Garcilasso  de  la 
Vega,*  the  first  poet  of  his  day  and  nation,  whom, 
from  the  magnificence  of  his  appearance,  they  mistook 
for  Charles  himself,  simultaneously  fired  a  volley,  by 
which  they  mortally  wounded  De  la  Vega,  and  killed 
several  of  his  immediate  suite.  Enraged  by  this  ir- 
reparable loss,  the  Emperor,  careless  of  the  danger  to 
which  he  might  be  exposed  by  such  a  delay,  instantly 
halted  his  army,  stormed  the  tower,  which  was  unable 
to  withstand  so  formidable  an  attack,  and  having  se- 
cured the  miserable  men  within,  hung  them  from  the 
portal  of  the  tower,  and  then  pursued  his  march,  leav- 
ing this  ghastly  memorial  of  his  passage  as  his  last 
legacy  of  vengeance. 

Mortified  and  disappointed,  with  a  diminished  and 
discontented  army,  and  an  exhausted  exchequer, 
Charles  despatched  his  troops,  under  the  command  of 
the  Marquis  del  Guasto,  into  the  Milanese,  where  he 
quartered  them  in  the  cities  of  the  Duke  of  Savoy  (who 
thus,  invaded  alike  by  his  friends  and  his  enemies, 
found  himself  dispossessed  of  all  his  territories,  save 
the  city  and  fortress  of  Nice,  into  which  he  had  re- 
tired) ;  and  this  arrangement  effected,  he  himself  pro- 

*  Garcilasso  de  la  Vega,  otherwise  Garcias  Lasso,  the  celebrated  Span- 
ish poet,  was  born  at  Toledo  in  1503.  He  served  in  the  army  of  Charles 
v.,  as  a  volunteer,  in  Germany,  Italy,  and  France,  and  died  of  a  wound 
received  in  the  retreat  of  Frejus,  at  Nice,  in  1536.  He  was  the  head 
of  a  new  school  of  poetry;  and  enriched  his  native  language  by  the 
introduction  of  the  most  elegant  of  the  foreign  idioms.  He  was  prin- 
cipally famous,  however,  for  his  odes,  his  eclogues  (among  which  the 
most  popular  were  Nemoroso  and  Salicio),  his  elegies,  his  sonnets,  and 
bis  ballads. 


Francis  I  151 

ceeded  to  Genoa,  where  his  galleys  were  awaiting  him, 
and  where  he  remained  for  a  fortnight  before  he  em- 
barked for  Spain.  His  whole  expedition  was,  how- 
ever, fated  to  be  unfortunate;  for  he  was  no  sooner 
at  mid-sea  than  he  was  overtaken  by  so  terrific  a  storm, 
that  not  only  were  six  of  his  galleys  sunk,  but  also  two 
larger  vessels,  one  of  which  was  freighted  with  his  plate, 
and  the  other  with  his  stud. 

Never  was  failure  more  complete  or  more  disastrous. 
The  loud  boastings  with  which  Charles  had  undertaken 
his  campaign  were  yet  ringing  in  the  ears  of  all  Europe  ; 
for  only  two  months  had  elapsed  from  the  period  of  his 
embarkation  for  France,  and  of  his  retreat  thence  as  a 
fugitive,  who  had  not  even  met  the  enemy  whom 
he  went  forth  to  defeat.  To  Francis  his  triumph  was 
bloodless,  while  to  the  Emperor  his  failure  was  a  blot 
which  could  never  be  effaced.  The  prestige  of  his  mili- 
tary glory  was  gone ;  the  conqueror  of  Solyman  and 
Barbarossa  was  shorn  of  his  laurels ;  and  his  keenest 
pang  arose  from  the  consciousness  that  he  had  been 
compelled  to  fly  before  the  very  troops  whom  he  had 
affected  to  despise. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Consternation  of  the  Italian  Princes — The  Siege  of  Turin  is 
Raised — The  Imperial  Troops  Enter  Picardy — Heroism  of 
the  Women  of  St.  Regnier — Capitulation  of  Guise — The  Im- 
perialists Besiege  Peronne — They  are  Repulsed  by  Fleu- 
ranges — Death  of  Fleuranges — Alarm  in  Paris — Annebaut 
and  Burie  Defend  Turin — Burie  is  Made  Captive  at  Casal — 
Francis  Strengthens  the  Frontiers  of  Provence — James  V. 
of  Scotland  Meets  the  King  at  Lyons — ^James  V.  is  Married 
to  the  Princess  Marguerite — ^Jealousy  of  Henry  VIII. — 
Knight-errantry  of  James  V. — Death  of  the  Princess  Mar- 
guerite— ^James  Demands  the  Hand  of  Marie  de  Guise — 
Feud  between  the  Royal  Favourites — Virulence  of  the 
Duchesse  d'Etampes — Disunion  in  the  Royal  Family — Infatu- 
ation of  Francis  I. — Apprehensions  of  Madame  d'Etampes — 
Her  Passion  for  Montmorenci — Francis  Lays  Claim  to 
Flanders,  Artois,  and  Charlerois — Convocation  of  the  Parlia- 
ment— Charles  V.  is  Cited  to  Appear  before  the  French 
Tribunals — The  Emperor  Disregards  the  Summons — The 
French  Enter  Artois — They  Take  Hesdin — The  Imperialists 
Invest  St.  Pol — The  City  is  Taken  by  De  Buren — De  Buren 
Marches  upon  Terouenne — Annebaut  Relieves  the  City — A 
Fatal  Skirmish — A  Truce  is  Efifected  between  France,  Picar- 
dy, and  the  Low  Countries — Francis  Openly  Avows  His  Al- 
liance with  the  Sultan — Solyman  Enters  Albania — Del 
Guasto  Successfully  Pursues  the  War  in  Piedmont — M. 
d'Humieres  is  Appointed  to  the  Chief  Command  of  the 
French  Army  in  Italy — The  Marquis  de  Saluzzo  Assists  Del 
Guasto  in  the  Siege  of  Carmagnole — He  is  Killed  by  a 
Musket-ball — Carmagnole  Surrenders — Cruelty  of  the  Im- 
15a 


Francis  I  153 

perialist  General — The  Dauphin  and  Montmorenci  March  to 
Lyons,  and  are  Followed  by  the  King — Del  Guasto  Fortifies 
the  Pass-de-Suze,  which  is  Forced  by  the  French — The  Im- 
perialists Raise  the  Siege  of  Pignerol,  and  Encamp  at  Mont- 
calier — The  Dauphin  Compels  Them  to  Retreat,  and  Takes 
the  City — Francis  Resolves  to  Take  the  Field  in  Person — 
The  Truce  is  Extended  to  Piedmont — The  Duke  of  Savoy 
Retires  to  Nice — Charles  V.  Endeavours  to  Effect  an  Eu- 
ropean Peace,  and  Offers  the  Hand  of  His  Niece  to  the 
Due  d'Orleans — Francis  Objects  to  the  Proposed  Condi- 
tions— Montmorenci  is  Created  Connetable — Death  of  the 
Chancellor  du  Bourg. 

THE  sensation  created  throughout  Italy  by  the  pro- 
posed invasion  of  France  had  meanwhile  been 
intense.  The  petty  Princes  of  that  country,  aware  that 
should  the  Emperor  be  successful,  the  preservation  of 
their  independence  could  only  be  secured  by  a  univer- 
sal coalition,  made  instant  preparations  for  a  league ; 
and  not  daring  to  declare  their  purpose  openly,  entered 
into  secret  negotiations  to  that  effect  with  the  more 
powerful  states.  The  French  King,  anxious  to  second 
their  efforts,  had  appointed  as  their  general  the  Comte 
Guy  de  Rangon,  under  whose  command  they  placed 
a  force  of  ten  thousand  men,  with  which  they  attempted 
to  possess  themselves  of  Genoa,  but  a  reinforcement  of 
imperialists  which  had  just  reached  that  city  rendered 
this  attack  abortive.  They  next  marched  upon  Ast, 
when  the  Spaniards  raised  the  siege  of  Turin,  and  al- 
lowed them  to  take  Carignano,  Raconis,  Carmagnoles, 
and,  with  slight  exceptions,  the  whole  marquisate  of 
Saluzzo. 

During  the  invasion  of  Provence  by  the  Emperor, 
the  Comte  de  Nassau,  and  Adrian  de  Croy,  Comte  de 


154  Reign  of 

Roeux,  had  entered  Picardy  at  the  head  of  twenty  thou- 
sand foot  and  seven  thousand  horse ;  and  after  laying 
waste  the  open  country  and  pillaging  all  the  villages 
upon  their  route,  had  made  themselves  masters  of 
Bray-sur-Somme,  and  several  other  places  of  less  im- 
portance. Encouraged  by  this  success,  they  next  en- 
deavoured to  reduce  St.  Rignier ;  but  the  town  being 
well  garrisoned,  and  the  walls  furnished  with  artillery, 
they  received  a  check  for  which,  from  the  apparent 
insignificance  of  the  place,  they  were  totally  unpre- 
pared. They  had,  moreover,  in  this  attempt,  to  com- 
bat not  only  the  troops  but  also  the  citizens,  and  even 
the  women,  who  in  many  instances  ascended  the  ram- 
parts, and  assisted  in  repelling  the  besiegers,  by  pour- 
ing hot  water  and  boiling  tar  upon  their  heads ;  while 
others,  with  a  courage  which  should  have  immortalized 
their  memory  as  heroines,  however  incompatible  it 
might  be  with  their  nature  as  women,  assumed  the 
garb  of  their  husbands,  and  fought  bravely  with  sword 
and  spear  until  they  succeeded  in  wresting  two  stan- 
dards from  the  enemy. 

Thence  the  imperialists  had  directed  their  march 
towards  the  city  of  Guise ;  where  the  Due  de  Vendome, 
who  despaired  of  making  an  effectual  resistance,  had 
issued  orders  to  the  garrison  to  shut  themselves  up  in 
the  citadel ;  they  had  not  time,  however,  to  effect  this 
arrangement  before  the  enemy  was  upon  them,  and 
they  were  accordingly  compelled  to  capitulate.  Nas- 
sau then  proceeded  to  attack  Peronne,  which  was  even 
less  capable  than  Guise  of  sustaining  an  assault ;  and  so 
great  was  the  alarm  of  the  inhabitants  when  they  be- 
came apprised  of  the  approach  of  the  imperialist  army, 


Francis  I  155 

that  they  resolved  to  save  themselves  by  flight ;  a  de- 
termination which  was  only  abandoned  when  they  were 
recalled  to  a  more  prudent  line  of  conduct  by  the 
courageous  example  of  a  wealthy  landholder  in  the 
neighbourhood,  M.  d'Estourmel,  who,  instead  of  flying 
from  the  city,  caused  all  his  grain  and  other  edibles  to 
be  transported  within  the  walls,  and  himself  took  up 
his  abode  there  with  his  family.  The  example  so 
boldly  given  was  immediately  followed ;  and  the  un- 
expected appearance  of  Fleuranges,  at  the  head  of  a 
small  force,  restored  them  in  some  degree  to  confidence. 
Their  means  of  defence  were,  however,  so  scanty,  and 
the  operations  of  the  enemy  so  vigorous,  that  hope  soon 
began  to  fail ;  their  ammunition  became  exhausted, 
their  fortifications  were  dilapidated,  and  their  provi- 
sions were  inadequate  for  the  supply  of  the  inhabitants. 
The  Emperor's  artillery  had  told  fearfully  within  the 
first  four-and-twenty  hours,  and  several  large  breaches 
were  made  in  the  walls.  Nassau,  moreover,  opened  a 
mine  under  the  old  tower  of  Peronne,  (an  historical  pile 
famous  as  the  prison  of  Charles  the  Simple  and  Louis 
XL),  which  overthrew  it  to  half  its  height,  and  buried 
in  its  ruins  the  Comte  de  Dammartin  who  shared  the 
command  with  Fleuranges.  Notwithstanding  this  mis- 
fortune, however,  the  gallant  little  band  still  held  out ; 
and  just  as  they  were  about  to  become  the  prey  of  the 
enemy,  the  Due  de  Guise,  who  had  been  apprised  by 
Fleuranges  of  the  extremity  to  which  they  were  re- 
duced, no  longer  possessing  either  food  or  powder,  suc- 
ceeded in  supplying  them  with  both ;  as  well  as  in  re- 
inforcing them  by  four  hundred  crossbow  men,  whom 
he  introduced  into  the  town  across  the  marshes,  which 


156  Reign  of 

being  considered  impassable,  were  less  carefully 
guarded  than  the  other  avenues  to  the  city.  Although 
this  fact  was  ascertained  too  late  by  the  imperialists, 
they  nevertheless  continued  the  siege,  and  made  two  or 
three  more  assaults  upon  the  outworks ;  but  they  were 
soon  compelled  to  abandon  the  enterprise,  leaving  their 
ladders  and  a  number  of  their  bravest  troops  in  the 
ditches.  On  the  loth  of  September,  finding  all  their 
efforts  to  take  the  place  unavailing,  while  the  loss  of 
life  became  daily  greater,  they  raised  the  siege;  and 
thus  abandoned  their  enterprise  the  very  day  before 
that  on  which  the  Emperor  had  commenced  his  own 
retreat  from  Provence. 

The  enemy  had  no  sooner  withdrawn  his  forces  than 
Fleuranges  hastened  to  meet  the  King,  who  was  on 
his  march  homeward,  and  to  report  the  result  of  his 
courageous  defence.  He  was  not  long  destined,  how- 
ever, to  enjoy  the  triumph  which  he  had  so  nobly 
earned,  for  only  a  short  time  subsequently  he  received 
intelligence  of  the  death  of  his  equally  brave  father  at 
Sedan ;  and  while  on  his  way  to  pay  the  last  tribute  of 
respect  to  his  remains,  he  fell  a  victim  to  a  malignant 
fever,  and  France  was  thus  deprived  of  one  of  her  best 
and  noblest  soldiers. 

When  it  became  known  in  Paris  that  Peronne  was 
in  a  state  of  siege,  the  alarm  was  universal ;  little  hope 
being  entertained  that  the  enemy  would  be  arrested  in 
their  march  towards  the  capital  by  a  city  so  ill  prepared 
against  aggression ;  and  it  was  entirely  owing  to  the 
zealous  and  judicious  exertions  of  the  Cardinal  du 
Bellay,  the  metropolitan  Bishop,  that  confidence  was 
ultimately  restored.    The  King  on  his  departure  for 


Francis  I     -  157 

the  south  had,  in  addition  to  his  ecclesiastical  rank, 
appointed  Du  Bellay  lieutenant-general  of  the  capital ; 
and  he  had  lost  no  time  in  conveying  all  the  wheat  and 
wine  which  could  be  obtained  within  a  round  of  six 
leagues  into  the  storehouses  of  the  city ;  both  of  which 
proved  to  be  so  abundant  in  quantity  as  to  suffice  not 
only  for  the  supply  of  the  whole  population  during  the 
space  of  an  entire  year,  but  also  for  that  of  a  garrison 
of  thirty  thousand  men.  The  energy  of  the  Parisians 
on  this  occasion  equalled  his  own ;  for  they  no  sooner 
became  convinced  of  his  power  as  well  as  of  his  will  to 
protect  them,  than  they  volunteered  to  give  him  a 
brigade  of  artillery  and  ten  thousand  troops,  to  be 
maintained  at  their  own  cost  so  long  as  the  enemy 
should  occupy  the  frontier.  The  gallantry  of  Fleur- 
anges  and  his  little  garrison  soon  relieved  them,  how- 
ever, from  their  apprehensions,  and  the  fortifications 
which  they  were  hastily  constructing  were  accordingly 
abandoned. 

Meanwhile  the  Admiral  d'Annebaut,*  and  M.  de 
Burie,t  who  commanded  at  Turin,  not  only  defended 

*  M.  d'Annebaut  was  a  celebrated  general,  who  made  his  first  cam- 
paign under  the  Marechal  de  Montmorenci  at  Mezieres,  where  he  ac- 
quired a  reputation  which  he  never  subsequently  forfeited.  He  was 
Colonel  of  the  Light-Horse  under  the  Comte  de  Saint-Pol  in  Italy,  and 
narrowly  escaped  sharing  his  captivity,  when  that  Prince  was  made 
prisoner  by  Antonio  da  Leyva  at  Milan.  He  was  afterwards  appointed 
Governor  of  Turin;  and  was  rewarded  for  his  bravery  and  judgment 
while  holding  that  dignity,  by  the  vacant  baton  of  the  Marechal  de 
Montejan. 

t  M.  de  Burie  commenced  his  career  as  a  simple  bowman,  but  soon 
distinguished  himself  so  much  as  to  attain  to  high  military  rank.  He 
was  a  man  of  good  family,  but  so  poor  that  the  first  horse  which  he 
was  compelled  to  provide  while  serving  under  the  Grand-Master  of 
Savoy,  was  presented  to  him  by  the  Comte  de  Bordeille,  who  was  aware 
that  he  was  unable  to  purchase  one.  His  personal  prowess,  however, 
soon  enabled  him  to  attain  the  grade  of  a  colonel  of  infantry,  and  he 


158  Reign  of 

that  place  with  the  greatest  zeal,  but  harassed  the  enemy 
by  frequent  and  daring  sallies  beyond  the  walls,  con- 
tinually making  prisoners,  and  securing  booty.  On 
one  of  these  occasions,  however,  Burie,  whom  his  pre- 
vious successes  had  rendered  less  cautious  than  before, 
was  surrounded  by  the  troops  of  the  Marquis  del 
Guasto  in  Casal,  which  town  he  had  just  taken,  and 
was  made  prisoner  after  a  vigorous  resistance,  to- 
gether with  the  remnant  of  his  men  who  survived.  M. 
d'Humieres  was  forthwith  despatched  to  replace  him 
with  a  reinforcement  of  ten  thousand  lansquenets  ;  and 
the  French  King,  having  thus  provided  for  the  safety 
of  Turin,  proceeded  to  Marseilles,  where  he  confirmed 
the  municipal  privileges  both  of  that  city  and  of  Aix, 
although  he  refused  to  remit  the  taxes  until  the  de- 
vastations to  which  they  had  been  subjected  could  be 
repaired ;  declaring  that  however  deeply  he  felt  the 
hardships  to  which  they  had  been  subjected,  the  out- 
lay necessary  for  the  defence  of  the  kingdom  at  that 
period  would  not  permit  him  to  accede  to  their  request. 
He  then  strengthened  all  the  frontier  fortresses  of  Prov- 
ence and  Languedoc ;  and  having  thus  secured  the 
safety  of  his  southern  territories,  and  the  season  being 
adverse  to  all  further  operations,  he  once  more  set  forth 
for  the  capital. 
At  Lyons  he  was  met  by  James  V.  of  Scotland,  who, 

was  so  accomplished  an  engineer,  that  he  was  the  rival  in  that  science 
of  Pietro  da  Navarro,  previously  considered  the  first  engineer  of  the 
age.  He  next  obtained  the  government  of  Guyenne,  where  he  acquitted 
himself  with  so  much  honour  that  the  King  conferred  upon  him  the  order 
of  St.  Michael.  During  the  intestine  commotions  which  succeeded  he 
was  suspected  of  Lutheranism,  from  the  reluctance  which  he  evinced  to 
put  to  death  such  of  the  Reformists  as  fell  into  his  hands.  He  died 
poor,  never  having  enriched  himself  by  the  spoils  of  the  provinces  over 
Which  he  had  been  called  to  rule,  as  was  too  much  the  fashion  of  that  day. 


Francis  I  159 

eager  to  prove  his  sense  of  the  alliance  which  had  so 
long  existed  between  his  own  ancestors  and  the  French 
sovereigns,  and  doubtlessly  also  anxious  to  secure  the 
support  of  Francis  against  England,  had  voluntarily 
embarked  with  a  force  of  sixteen  thousand  men  to 
assist  him  in  his  campaign.  Nor  had  the  Scottish  King 
persisted  in  his  purpose  without  considerable  difficulty, 
as  the  fleet  which  conveyed  his  little  army  was  three 
times  driven  back  by  adverse  winds ;  but  so  soon  as 
he  was  enabled  to  land  at  Dieppe  with  a  portion  of  his 
troops,  he  had  hastened  to  make  his  way  to  the  theatre 
of  war ;  when,  as  we  have  already  stated,  he  encoun- 
tered the  King  on  his  return. 

Francis  was  not  slow  to  express  his  gratitude  for  so 
signal  an  act  of  friendship  and  good-will ;  and  upon 
his  expressing  his  desire  to  requite  it,  James  replied  by 
reminding  him  that  he  had  already  led  him  to  hope  for 
the  hand  of  Madame  Marguerite,  his  eldest  daughter, 
and  warmly  urging  him  now  to  fulfil  his  promise.  At 
such  a  moment,  and  under  such  circumstances,  the 
French  monarch  did  not  hesitate,  although  James  was 
already  afifianced  to  a  daughter  of  the  Due  de  Ven- 
dome;  and  accordingly  the  Scottish  King  accompanied 
the  royal  train  to  the  capital  as  the  future  son-in-law 
of  the  sovereign. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1537,  the  marriage  was  sol- 
emnized with  great  magnificence  at  the  episcopal 
palace ;  and  it  sufficed  to  alienate  the  friendship  and 
confidence  of  Henry  VIII.,  who  looked  with  extreme 
jealousy  upon  this  alliance.  His  own  position  was  at 
the  moment  so  embarrassing,  however,  that  he  con- 


i6o  Reign  of 

tented  himself  by  turning  his  back  upon  M.  de  la 
Pommeraye,*  the  Ambassador  who  had  been  sent  by 
Francis  to  announce  it  to  him ;  the  unfortunate  Anne 
Boleyn  having  just  fallen  a  victim  to  his  ruthless 
caprice,  while  he  had  already  become  the  husband  of 
Jane  Seymour.  In  obedience  to  his  passions  he  had 
alternately  persecuted  both  the  Protestants  and  the 
Romanists,  and  was,  consequently,  distrusted  by  both 
parties;  the  alliance  of  James  V.  with  a  French  Prin- 
cess destroyed,  as  he  was  well  aware,  the  balance  of 
the  two  kingdoms,  and  rendered  his  position  more 
onerous  than  before ;  nor  could  he  overcome  his  morti- 
fication when  he  remembered  that  the  hand  of  his  own 
daughter  Mary,  whom  he  had  recently  bastardized, 
had  been  twice  offered  to  the  Scottish  King;  once  by 
the  Emperor,  who  had  pledged  himself  that,  although 
thus  legally  disinherited  by  her  father,  she  should 
nevertheless  succeed  to  the  throne  of  England ;  and  on 
another  occasion  by  himself,  as  a  pledge  of  alliance 
between  the  two  countries ;  on  the  sole  condition  that 
James  should,  like  himself,  become  the  avowed  pro- 
tector of  the  Reformed  religion. 

The  Scottish  King,  whose  Romanist  principles  were 
averse  to  this  concession,  but  who  was  nevertheless 
desirous  to  form  an  alHance  which  would  enable  him 
to  counteract  the  devices  of  the  enemies  by  whom  he 
was  beset  in  his  own  nation,  went  incognito,  in  the 
first  instance,  as  some  historians  assert,  to  Vendome, 
in  order  to  obtain  a  sight  of  his  affianced  bride ;  and 
being  dissatisfied  upon  finding  that  she  was  less  at- 
tractive than  he  had  been  led  to  suppose,  departed  as 

•  M.  de  la  Pommeraye  was  steward  of  the  Kiug's  household. 


Francis  I  i6i 

secretly  as  he  had  gone,  and  at  once  resolved  to  de- 
mand the  hand  of  the  Princess  Marguerite,  then  in  her 
seventeenth  year. 

The  fair  and  delicate  character  of  her  beauty  at  once 
fascinated  James;  and  the  languor  which  incipient 
consumption  had  already  cast  over  her  person,  added, 
in  his  romantic  eyes,  to  the  charms  of  her  appearance. 
It  would  seem,  moreover,  according  to  Buchanan,  that 
the  attraction  was  mutual,  and  that  Marguerite  be- 
stowed not  only  her  hand,  but  also  her  heart,  upon 
her  enamoured  suitor ;  a  most  uncommon  case  in  royal 
marriages. 

Whether  James  in  reality  played  the  knight-errant, 
as  thus  represented,  must  for  ever  remain  question- 
able ;  thus  much,  however,  is  certain,  that,  after  pass- 
ing three  or  four  months  of  constant  festivity  at  the 
French  court,  he  finally  departed  with  his  bride  for 
Scotland,  where  they  landed  on  the  28th  of  May ;  and 
that  on  the  7th  of  the  July  ensuing,  the  young  Queen, 
unable  to  withstand  the  fluctuations  of  a  climate  to 
which  she  was  unaccustomed,  fell  a  victim  to  the  in- 
sidious disease  under  which  she  had  long  laboured. 
Her  amiability  had  already,  however,  endeared  her 
alike  to  the  court  and  to  the  people,  who  mourned  her 
loss  as  that  of  one  who  would  not  easily  be  replaced ; 
although  her  excessive  attachment  to  her  aunt,  the 
Queen  of  Navarre,  had  alarmed  the  priesthood,  who 
dreaded  her  influence  over  the  mind  of  the  King,  and 
who  consequently  urged  James  to  take  another  wife 
at  the  termination  of  his  mourning. 

To  the  surprise  of  all  who  had  witnessed  his  exces- 
sive affection  for  his  young  bride,  the  widowed  mon- 

VOL.   III.— II 


i62  Reign  of 

arch  at  once  consented  to  comply  with  their  advice; 
and,  at  the  expiration  of  that  period,  despatched  am- 
bassadors to  France  to  soHcit  the  hand  of  Marie  de 
Guise,  the  widow  of  the  Due  de  Longueville,  with 
whom  he  had  made  acquaintance  at  the  French  court. 

It  is  probable  that  Francis,  the  father  of  the  deceased 
Queen,  regarded  the  demand  as  somewhat  premature ; 
for  although  from  considerations  of  policy  it  was  con- 
ceded, Marie  de  Guise  did  not  reach  Scotland  until 
the  14th  of  June  in  the  ensuing  year,  when  her  nuptials 
with  the  Scottish  King  were  immediately  solemnized. 

During  the  festivities  consequent  upon  the  marriage 
of  the  Princess  Marguerite,  the  court  of  France  was, 
to  all  appearance,  entirely  occupied  by  gaiety  and 
splendour ;  but  such  was  far  from  being  in  reality  the 
case.  The  death  of  the  elder  Prince,  and  the  conse- 
quent succession  of  Henry  his  brother  to  the  rank  of 
Dauphin  of  France,  had  effected  so  great  a  change  in 
the  position  of  the  two  royal  favourites,  that  the  schism 
to  which  we  have  already  made  allusion  became  every 
day  more  apparent  and  more  alarming.  The  separate 
factions  had,  in  fact,  virtually  declared  themselves ; 
and  they  were  so  nicely  balanced,  that  none  could  de- 
cide upon  the  ultimate  triumph  of  either.  At  the  head 
of  one  of  these  parties  were  the  Duchesse  d'Etampes, 
Charles,  now  Due  d'Orleans,  and  Brion  de  Chabot; 
at  that  of  the  other,  Diana  de  Poitiers,  the  Dauphin, 
and  the  Connetable  de  Montmorenci;  while  Catherine 
de'  Medici,  with  a  dissimulation  as  profound  as  it  was 
politic,  remained  resolutely  neutral ;  affecting  the 
greatest  regard  for  both  the  ambitious  rivals,  and  even 
honouring  Madame  de  Breze,  who  had  forever  alien- 


Francis  I  163 

ated  from  her  the  affection  of  her  husband,  injured  her 
interests,  and  wounded  her  vanity,  with  a  display  of 
confidence  and  attachment  wholly  incompatible  with 
their  relative  position.  Although  perpetually  urged 
by  both  parties  to  declare  her  real  sentiments,  the  wily 
Italian  resolutely  refused  to  side  with  either.  Like 
Louise  de  Savoie,  she  was  content  to  "  bide  her  time ;  " 
and  for  twenty  long  and  weary  years  she  so  far  con- 
trolled herself  as  never  to  remove  the  mask  which  she 
had  assumed  towards  the  mistress  of  her  husband. 

The  rivalry  of  the  favourites  was  productive,  mean- 
while, of  the  most  disastrous  results  to  the  kingdom ; 
and  its  first  fruits  were  to  promote  disunion  in  the 
family  of  the  King ;  who,  influenced  by  the  representa- 
tions and  prejudices  of  the  unscrupulous  Duchesse 
d'Etampes,  soon  began  to  treat  the  Dauphin  with  a 
marked  coldness,  which  contrasted  painfully  with  the 
favour  and  indulgence  which  he  evinced  towards  the 
younger  Prince ;  and  a  feeling  of  jealousy  and  distrust 
consequently  sprang  up  between  the  two  brothers 
which  threatened  to  overwhelm  France  with  anarchy 
and  confusion.  The  birth  of  a  daughter  had  rendered 
Diana  more  than  ever  dear  to  the  Dauphin;  and,  se- 
cure of  his  affection,  she  ceased  to  conceal  the  hatred 
which  she  had  long  harboured  against  Madame 
d'Etampes,  and  to  repay  in  kind  every  affront  to  which 
she  was  subjected  by  the  arrogant  favourite. 

In  the  magnificence  of  her  establishment,  the  Grande 
Senechale  was  already  enabled  to  vie  with  the  Duchess, 
and  she  did  so  with  an  ostentation  as  insolent  as  it  was 
reckless;  but  meanwhile  her  rival,  aware  that  the 
health  of  the  King  was  rapidly  failing,  exerted  all  her 


164  Reign  of 

energies  to  undermine  the  interests  of  the  Dauphin, 
through  whose  disgrace  alone  she  could  hope  to  ruin 
the  prospects  of  Diana — prospects  which  were,  more- 
over, based  upon  her  own  overthrow — and  at  the  same 
time  to  enrich  herself. 

How  completely  she  succeeded  in  the  latter  attempt 
the  public  treasury  bore  only  too  ample  testimony. 
Splendid  residences  in  the  capital,  and  estates  and 
chateaux  in  the  country,  passed  rapidly  into  her  pos- 
session ;  and  even  while  Francis  was  engaged  in  new 
intrigues,  she  had  become  so  necessary  to  his  home- 
happiness  that  all  her  wishes  remained,  as  before,  a 
law  to  the  infatuated  monarch.  So  jealous,  indeed, 
did  he  prove  himself  of  securing  her  society  by  every 
possible  method,  that,  on  discovering  the  preference 
she  evinced  for  a  stately  hotel  which  he  had  presented 
to  her  in  the  Rue  de  I'Hirondelle,  he  caused  a  small 
palace  to  be  built  at  the  angle  of  that  street  where  it 
is  connected  with  the  Rue  Git-le-Coeur,  which,  com- 
municating with  her  residence,  he  fitted  up  in  the 
most  costly  manner.  The  frescoed  walls,  the  pictures, 
the  groups  of  statuary,  the  tapestried  hangings,  and 
all  the  embellishments  of  the  apartments,  were  made 
subservient  to  the  display  of  a  passion  which  was  dis- 
honourable alike  to  both  parties ;  the  gilded  cornices 
were  ornamented  with  carvings,  in  which  a  heart, 
whence  flame  was  issuing,  was  placed  between  the 
words  alpha  and  otnega;  while  the  salamander,  the  de- 
vice of  the  King,  surmounted  the  large  mirrors,  and 
held  back  the  draperies  that  veiled  the  windows. 

And  amid  all  this  magnificence,  guilty  and  heart- 
sick, she  saw  the  health  of  the  King  gradually  declin- 


Francis  I  165 

ing;  and  was  aware  that  on  his  demise  Madame  de 
Breze  would  dispossess  her  of  all  her  ill-acquired  in- 
fluence. For  Francis,  as  an  individual,  it  was  evident 
that  she  felt  no  affection ;  while  even  her  gratitude  for 
the  benefits  which  he  had  so  profusely  showered  upon 
her  was  extremely  questionable.  To  the  most  inordi- 
nate personal  vanity  she  had  ever  been  so  notoriously 
a  victim,  that  she  considered  him  as  still  her  debtor ; 
nor  did  the  slavish  adulations  of  the  courtiers,  who 
saw  in  her  only  the  favourite  of  the  monarch,  tend  to 
weaken  her  self-appreciation.  Powerful  by  her  attrac- 
tions, her  riches,  and  her  position,  she  found  herself 
perpetually  surrounded  by  homage;  and  the  terror 
with  which  she  contemplated  the  probable  loss  of  these 
advantages  deprived  her  of  all  peace.  Nor  did  she 
escape  other  and  keener  feelings  of  mortification  and 
disappointment ;  the  only  noble  of  high  rank  at  court 
who  had  remained  totally  insensible  to  her  fascina- 
tions was  Montmorenci,  who,  between  his  chivalric 
adoration  of  the  Queen,  and  a  violent  passion  for 
Madame  de  Breze,  had  coldly  withstood  all  her  blan- 
dishments, and  at  length  so  piqued  her  vanity,  that  even 
her  callous  heart  had  yielded  itself,  although  unsought ; 
while  the  constant  terror  which  she  felt  lest  her  more 
ignoble  intrigues  might  become  known  to  the  King, 
kept  her  in  a  perpetual  state  of  unrest. 

Fortunately,  however,  for  the  frail  favourite,  the  re- 
cent successes  of  Francis,  and  his  desire  to  increase 
their  efifect  by  still  further  humiliating  the  pride  of  the 
Emperor,  sufficed  to  distract  his  attention  from  her 
disgraceful  irregularities.  After  having  secured  the 
safety  of  Picardy,  he  determined  to  reclaim  the  coun- 


1 66  Reign  of 

ties  of  Flanders,  Artois,  and  Charlerois,  which,  al- 
though they  formed  a  portion  of  the  patrimonial 
estates  of  Charles,  had  been  held  alike  by  himself  and 
his  ancestors  as  fiefs  of  the  French  crown.  This  pro- 
ceeding, which  was  in  point  of  fact  utterly  futile,  was 
rather  intended  by  Francis  to  mark  his  contempt  for 
the  power  of  the  Emperor,  than  to  aggrandize  his  own ; 
but  having  once  resolved  upon  the  measure,  it  was 
not  long  ere  his  counsellors  furnished  him  with  a  suf- 
ficient pretext  for  its  enforcement,  which  was  supplied 
by  the  assertion,  that,  from  his  having  declared  war 
against  France  without  any  provocation,  Charles  had 
violated  the  treaty  of  Cambray,  and  thereby  annulled 
the  cessions  made  by  France  in  that  negotiation; 
among  the  rest,  the  homage  and  cognizance  of  the 
counties  of  Artois  and  Flanders,  by  which  he  was,  as 
his  predecessors  had  previously  been,  the  vassal  of 
the  crown. 

In  order  to  issue  an  official  edict  to  this  effect,  Fran- 
cis assembled  the  Parliament,  and  proceeded  to  hold 
a  bed  of  justice,  surrounded  by  the  Princes  of  the  blood, 
the  King  of  Navarre,  the  Peers,  and  between  forty  and 
fifty  Bishops;  and  at  which  Jacques  Cappel,  the  King's 
advocate,  read  upon  his  knees  a  long  statement  pre- 
viously prepared  by  the  Chancellor,  wherein  the  Em- 
peror was  merely  styled  Charles  of  Austria.  In  this 
document,  with  a  sophistry  as  shallow  as  it  was  high- 
sounding,  he  attempted  to  prove  that  the  Emperor 
was  a  feudatory  of  the  French  King  for  the  three  coun- 
ties in  question,  while  he  had,  nevertheless,  frequently 
taken  up  arms  against  his  suzerain ;  an  act  of  rebelhon 
which,  as  it  set  forth,  justified  the  reclamation  of  these 


Francis  I  167 

fiefs,  and  their  consequent  confiscation  to  the  crown. 
No  allusion  was  made  to  the  treaty  of  Madrid,  by  which 
Francis  had  relinquished  his  title  to  the  sovereignty 
he  now  asserted,  and  no  discussion  was  permitted  by 
the  chambers ;  but  so  soon  as  the  speech  was  termi- 
nated, the  Chancellor  collected  the  votes  of  the  assem- 
bly, commencing  with  those  of  the  Dauphin  and  the 
other  Princes  of  the  blood,  and  concluding  with  those 
of  the  Parliament  themselves ;  after  which  it  was 
decreed  that  heralds  should  be  sent  to  the  frontiers  of 
the  Low  Countries,  to  summon  the  Emperor  to  appear 
in  person,  or  by  deputy,  to  answer  within  a  given  time 
to  the  charges  brought  against  him. 

To  this  citation  Charles  V,  as  a  natural  consequence, 
vouchsafed  no  attention ;  and  the  Parliament  accord- 
ingly decreed  the  forfeiture  of  the  three  counties  to  the 
French  crown ;  an  empty  act  of  bombast  which  only 
tended  to  degrade  the  judicial  authority  of  the  coun- 
try, without  affecting  the  tenure  of  the  Emperor,  who 
continued  to  hold  the  reclaimed  counties  as  though 
no  such  edict  had  ever  been  promulgated.  Exas- 
perated by  the  silent  contempt  of  his  adversary,  Fran- 
cis resolved  to  enforce  his  self-constituted  claim ;  and 
towards  the  end  of  March  he  entered  Artois  with  a 
force  of  twenty-six  thousand  infantry  and  a  few  squad- 
rons of  cavalry,  and  took  the  city  of  Hesdin  by  siege ; 
after  which  he  attacked  the  castle,  a  post  of  consider- 
able importance  as  a  frontier-fortress.  This  success, 
however,  was  dearly  bought,  as  it  cost  him  the  lives 
of  Antoine  de  Mailli,  and  Charles  de  Beuil  the  young 
Comte  de  Sancerre,  as  well  as  those  of  many  other 
brave  men.    Saint-Pol,  Saint-Venant,  Lillers,  and  sev- 


i68  Reign  of 

eral  other  towns  of  less  strength,  fell  successively  into 
his  hands;  after  which  he  placed  a  portion  of  his 
troops  in  cantonment  upon  the  frontier,  establishing 
his  head-quarters  at  Femes;  and  then  marched  the 
remainder  into  Piedmont,  where  the  enemy  was  col- 
lecting a  large  force. 

The  latter  division  was,  however,  soon  recalled,  in- 
telligence having  reached  the  French  lines  that  d'Eg- 
mond,  Comte  de  Buren,*  the  lieutenant-general  of  the 
Emperor,  had  already  invested  Saint- Fol.  As  this  city 
was  of  the  greatest  importance  to  Francis,  he  had  no 
sooner  entered  the  gates  than  he  issued  stringent 
orders  for  its  immediate  and  efficient  defence ;  but  be- 
fore his  commands  could  be  obeyed,  the  imperialists 
appeared  before  the  walls.  The  engineer  to  whom  the 
King  on  his  departure  for  Saint- Venant  had  entrusted 
the  reparation  of  the  fortifications,  had  assured  him 
that  they  should  be  completed  within  the  space  of 
three  weeks;  but  before  the  expiration  of  that  time, 
and  while  they  were  still  in  an  unfinished  state,  they 
were,  as  we  have  said,  assaulted  by  the  enemy.  The 
garrison  was,  however,  strong ;  and  many  able  officers 
were  assembled  within  the  walls  under  the  command  of 
Jean  d'Estouteville,  Seigneur  de  Villebon,f  who  had 
been  appointed  governor  of  the  city ;  and  thus,  while 

*  Maximilian  d'Egmond,  Comte  de  Buren,  was  a  descendant  of  the 
Dues  de  Gueldre,  Knight  of  the  Golden  Fleece,  and  General  of  the 
armies  of  Charles  V.  At  the  head  of  30,000  infantry  and  8,000  horse  he 
retook  the  city  of  Saint-Pol  from  the  French,  and  subsequently  burnt  it. 
He  died  at  Brussels,  in  1548. 

t  Jean  d'Estouteville,  Seigneur  de  Villebon,  was  descended  from  an 
ancient  and  illustrious  family  of  Normandy,  and  counted  among  his 
other  distinguished  ancestors  the  celebrated  Guillaume  d'Estouteville, 
Archbishop  of  Rouen,  famous  for  his  diplomatic  services  under  Charles 
VII.  and  Louis  XI.    The  family  became  extinct  in  1566. 


Francis  I  169 

the  pioneers  continued  their  labours  under  the  very 
fire  of  the  imperialists,  the  attack  was  met  by  the 
troops  with  such  tenacious  courage,  that  they  were 
enabled  to  hold  out  until  the  15th  of  the  month,  when 
Buren  took  the  place  by  assault,  and  slaughtered  the 
whole  of  the  inhabitants,  as  well  as  the  greater  por- 
tion of  the  garrison.  Many  of  the  bravest  of  the 
French  officers  shared  the  fate  of  their  followers ;  and 
Martin  du  Bellay  was  only  saved  by  being  dragged 
from  under  a  heap  of  dead  by  a  German  officer  whose 
prisoner  he  became,  together  with  M.  de  Villebon. 
The  two  nobles  were  forthwith  conveyed  to  Gravelines, 
where  the  ransom  of  the  former  was  fixed  at  three  thou- 
sand crowns,  and  that  of  the  latter  at  ten  thousand, 
which,  having  been  immediately  paid,  they  were  per- 
mitted to  return  to  France. 

This  intelligence  reached  the  Dauphin  and  Mont- 
morenci  as  they  were  on  their  march  to  relieve  the  city ; 
and  although  their  assistance  came  too  late  to  save 
Saint-Po!,  they  continued  to  advance  rapidly  in  order 
to  reinforce  the  other  frontier  towns  in  the  event  of 
their  being  attacked ;  while  the  Comte  de  Buren,  find- 
ing his  position  untenable  from  the  near  neighbour- 
hood of  so  large  an  army  as  that  which  was  approach- 
ing, set  fire  to  the  city  and  razed  the  citadel ;  he  then 
abandoned  his  fruitless  conquest,  and  marched  upon 
Terouenne,  where  his  appearance  would  have  excited 
no  alarm  had  not  a  scarcity  of  powder  rendered  the 
garrison  unable  to  protect  their  ramparts. 

The  great  importance  of  this  place  determined  the 
Dauphin  and  the  Marechal  de  Montmorenci,  who  were 
assembling  their  army  at  Amiens,  to  attempt  its  relief ; 


lyo  Reign  of 

and  d'Annebaut  was  entrusted  with  the  perilous  duty 
of  introducing  the  necessary  ammunition  within  the 
walls.  He  accordingly  placed  himself  at  the  head  of 
a  corps  of  gendarmerie,  a  regiment  of  light  horse,  and 
four  hundred  harquebusiers,  each  of  whom  bore  at 
his  saddle-bow  a  bag  of  powder ;  and  his  arrangements 
were  so  skilfully  carried  out,  that  under  cover  of  the 
darkness  the  whole  supply  reached  the  beleaguered 
garrison  in  safety ;  but  just  as  he  had  commenced  his 
retreat  with  the  same  caution  as  he  had  evinced  on 
his  approach,  he  was  startled  by  the  sound  of  musketry, 
and  discovered  that  a  party  of  the  young  nobles  who 
were  serving  with  the  army  as  volunteers,  had,  with- 
out his  knowledge,  joined  the  expedition,  and  thus 
imprudently  given  the  alarm  to  the  enemy's  camp. 

He  immediately  sent  an  order  that  they  should  re- 
tire on  the  instant,  and  waited  for  some  time  to  enable 
them  to  rejoin  him  ;  but  as  the  morning  was  just  break- 
ing, and  Buren  had  kept  his  cavalry  on  the  alert 
throughout  the  night,  that  wary  general  was  not  only 
enabled  to  charge  those  who  had  lingered  behind,  but 
also  to  take  possession  of  a  bridge  across  which  the 
whole  of  the  French  force  must  necessarily  pass  in 
their  retreat.  Annebaut  thus  found  himself  opposed 
to  a  strong  body  of  cavalry,  which  he  was  enabled 
for  a  time  to  repulse ;  but  the  imperialists  have  scat- 
tered themselves  on  all  sides,  he  was  ultimately  sur- 
rounded, his  horse  was  shot  under  him,  and  he  was 
taken  prisoner  together  with   Piennes,*   d'0,f    San- 

•  The  Seigneur  de  Piennes  was  the  representative  of  a  noble  and  an- 
cient family,  and  was  one  of  the  favourites  of  Francis  I.  He  was 
present  at  Fornoue,  and  at  the  Battle  of  the  Spurs,  and  was  ultimately 
appointed  Governor  of  Picardy. 

t  The  Count  d'O,  Seigneur  de  Gresner,  was  descended  from  an  illus- 
trious Norman  family,  which  became  extinct  in  1734. 


Francis  I  171 

sac,*  the  Marquis  de  Villars,f  and  several  other  men  of 
high  rank. 

Nevertheless,  the  city  had  received  the  necessary- 
supplies  ;  and  although  by  an  act  of  the  most  reckless 
imprudence  the  French  had  sustained  an  irreparable 
loss,  the  temporary  safety  of  the  place  was  secured. 
But  the  Dauphin,  who  had  lost  several  of  his  personal 
friends  in  the  skirmish,  at  once  resolved,  with  the  sanc- 
tion of  Montmorenci,  to  compel  Buren,  who  was  still 
besieging  Terouenne  with  a  pertinacity  which  threat- 
ened its  ultimate  destruction,  to  a  general  engagement. 
On  the  very  eve  of  his  contemplated  attack,  however, 
a  herald  despatched  by  Mary,  the  Dowager-Queen  of 
Hungary  and  governante  of  the  Low  Countries, 
reached  his  camp,  with  the  intelligence  that  the  Em- 
peror had  proposed  a  truce  to  which  the  French  King 
had  acceded,  and  that  the  negotiation  was  entrusted 
to  herself.  All  hostilities  were  consequently  to  termi- 
nate on  the  frontier;  and  M.  de  Buren  had  already 
received  orders  to  discontinue  the  siege  of  Terouenne. 

♦Louis  Revot,  Baron  de  Sansac,  was  of  a  noble  house  of  Angoumois; 
|he  was  page  to  the  Marficlial  de  Montmorenci,  and  commenced  his 
career  in  arms  under  Bonnivet.  After  the  battle  of  Pavia,  where  he 
was  made  prisoner,  he  succeeded  in  effecting  his  escape,  and  in  return- 
ing to  France;  whence  he  was  several  times  despatched  by  Louise  de 
Savoie  to  Madrid,  with  confidential  messages  to  her  son  during  his 
captivity.  He  acquired  great  renown  by  his  conduct  at  Mirandola,  in 
1534.  where  he  compelled  the  enemy  to  raise  the  siege.  He  was  the 
first  equestrian  of  his  time,  and  instructed  Francis  in  the  noble  science 
of  equitation.  He  subsequently  became  governor  of  the  sons  of  Henry 
II.;  and  died  in  1570. 

t  The  Marquis  de  Villars  was  the  son  of  Rdne,  the  Bastard  of  Savoy, 
and  Grand-Master  of  France ;  and  brother  of  the  Comte  de  Tende.  He 
was  a  brave  and  experienced  soldier;  but  was  unfortunate  enough  to  be 
made  prisoner,  not  only  at  Terouenne,  but  subsequently  also  .it  the 
battle  of  St.  Quentin,  where  he  was,  moreover,  severely  wounded.  Hav- 
ing been  appointed  to  the  government  of  Guyenne,  he  established  at 
Bordeaux  a  society  for  the  suppression  of  the  Protestants. 


172  Reign  of 

Commissioners  were  appointed  on  both  sides,  who  met 
at  the  village  of  Bommy ;  and  on  the  30th  of  July  a 
suspension  of  the  war  in  Picardy  and  the  Low  Coun- 
tries was  concluded  for  the  space  of  ten  months. 

Francis  had  at  this  period  entered  into  an  open  al- 
liance with  Solyman,  by  which  he  had  excited  the  in- 
dignation of  all  the  Christian  Princes;  and  when,  ac- 
cording to  the  conditions  of  the  truce,  he  withdrew  his 
army  from  the  Low  Countries  while  Buren  raised  the 
siege  of  Terouenne,  it  was  suspected  that  he  contem- 
plated entering  Italy,  in  accordance  with  the  treaty 
that  he  had  signed  with  the  Turks,  who  were  at  the 
same  time  to  make  a  descent  upon  Naples.  The  Sul- 
tan had,  in  fact,  already  marched  a  hundred  thousand 
men  into  Albania  upon  the  faith  of  this  treaty;  and  was 
daily  awaiting  there  the  appearance  of  his  ally,  when 
he  ascertained  that  he  was  engaged  in  a  war  with  Flan- 
ders, upon  which  he  withdrew  his  own  army  and  aban- 
doned the  enterprise. 

In  Piedmont,  the  affairs  of  France  were  progressing 
even  less  satisfactorily ;  the  Italian  officers  having 
quarrelled  among  themselves,  the  lansquenets  muti- 
nied, and  the  French  troops  deserted  in  great  numbers ; 
while  the  Marquis  del  Guasto,  profiting  by  the  anarchy 
of  the  enemy,  was  strengthening  the  cause  of  the  Em- 
peror by  overrunning  the  marquisate  of  Saluzzo. 

In  this  extremity  Francis  appointed  M.  d'Humieres 
to  the  chief  command  of  his  Italian  army,  and  directed 
Du  Bellay  Langei,  upon  whose  zeal  and  discretion  he 
was  aware  that  he  could  rely  with  safety,  to  effect  a 
reconciliation  between  the  contending  parties.  This, 
however,  proved  to  be  impossible,  as  the  virulence  of 


Francis  I  173 

Italian  hate  was  proof  against  the  cool  and  dispassion- 
ate arguments  of  the  royal  envoy ;  who  consequently 
urged  the  King  to  lose  no  time  in  despatching  a  strong 
force  to  Piedmont,  if  he  wished  to  retain  his  posses- 
sions in  that  country.  With  this  advice,  judicious  as 
it  was,  Francis  could  not  at  the  moment  comply ;  and 
the  French  troops,  unable  to  cope  with  the  superior 
force  of  their  adversaries,  were  gradually  driven  from 
their  fortresses  until  they  retained  only  that  of  Car- 
magnole, which  was  in  its  turn  besieged  by  the  im- 
perialist general. 

The  Marquis  de  Saluzzo,  whose  treason  towards 
Francis  we  have  already  recorded,  and  who  was  con- 
versant with  the  weak  points  of  the  citadel,  undertook 
the  command  of  the  artillery ;  and  in  his  eagerness  to 
drive  the  French  from  his  territories,  even  worked  one 
of  the  guns  with  his  own  hands.  Having  blown  up 
a  couple  of  houses  in  order  to  cover  his  position,  he 
fired  two  successive  vollies  against  the  city,  and  was 
in  the  act  of  directing  a  third,  when  he  was  shot  dead 
by  a  musket-ball.  The  Marquis  del  Guasto,  who  feared 
that  the  fall  of  the  Marquis  might  discourage  his 
troops,  hastily  threw  a  cloak  over  the  body,  and  once 
more  summoned  the  besieged  to  surrender ;  promising 
not  only  to  spare  their  lives,  but  to  allow  them  to  de- 
part unmolested.  The  garrison,  which  consisted  only 
of  two  hundred  men,  who  had  resisted  while  a  hope 
remained  of  their  ultimate  success,  were  compelled  to 
accede  to  the  oflfered  terms ;  upon  which  the  gates 
were  thrown  open,  and  the  Marquis  entered  the  town, 
warmly  expressing  his  admiration  of  the  courage  with 
which  it  had  been  defended ;  and  desiring  that  the  in- 


174  Reign  of 

dividual  might  be  pointed  out  to  him  who  had  been  on 
duty  at  a  particular  window  of  the  fortress.  The  sol- 
dier who  had  occupied  the  post  indicated,  unsuspicious 
of  the  motive  of  this  inquiry,  and  moreover  uncon- 
scious that  he  had  shot  Saluzzo,  immediately  stepped 
forward,  when  Del  Guasto  caused  him  to  be  seized, 
and  hanged  from,  the  same  spot. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  M.  d'Humieres  reached  Pig- 
nerol,  where  he  established  his  head-quarters,  and  re- 
iterated the  demand  of  Du  Bellay  for  a  reinforcement 
of  troops ;  when,  in  reply  to  his  requisition,  the  King 
sent  him  an  assurance  that  he  would  himself  join  him 
during  the  month  of  October,  with  a  large  force ;  and 
meanwhile  the  Dauphin  and  Montmorenci  proceeded 
to  Lyons,  at  the  head  of  a  small  body  of  men,  to  join 
a  levy  of  15,000  Swiss,  who  were  appointed  to  meet 
them  in  that  city  for  the  purpose  of  continuing  the 
operations  in  Italy. 

In  order  to  secure  the  safety  of  the  kingdom  during 
his  absence,  Francis  appointed  Charles,  Due  d'Orleans, 
his  second  son,  lieutenant-general  in  Picardy,  Nor- 
mandy, the  Isle  of  France,  and  Paris ;  and  attached 
Martin  du  Bellay  to  his  person  as  his  chief  councillor. 
Burgundy  and  Champagne  were  entrusted  to  the  Due 
de  Guise ;  the  King  of  Navarre  was  declared  Governor 
of  Gnienne,  Languedoc,  and  Chateaubriand  in  Brit- 
tany; and  these  arrangements  completed,  on  the  6th 
of  October  Francis  in  accordance  with  his  promise 
arrived  in  his  turn  at  Lyons,  with  a  strong  and  efficient 
army,  well  prepared  to  resume  the  campaign. 

His  approach  was  no  sooner  communicated  to  the 
Marquis  del  Guasto,  than  that  general  proceeded  to 


Francis  I  175 

lay  waste  the  whole  of  the  country  through  which  the 
French  troops  must  pass;  and  transported  all  the 
provisions  and  forage  which  could  be  accumulated  into 
the  different  fortresses  of  which  he  had  possessed  him- 
self; while  at  the  same  time  he  detached  Cesare  da 
Napoli  with  a  force  of  10,000  men  to  guard  the  Pas-de- 
Suze,  by  which  pass  he  anticipated  that  the  enemy 
would  attempt  to  enter  Italy.  Upon  the  entrench- 
ments which  were  hastily  thrown  up  at  this  point, 
(already  a  formidable  obstacle  in  itself  to  the  passage 
of  a  strong  army,)  the  devastation  of  the  lower  lands, 
and  the  near  approach  of  the  winter  season,  Del  Guasto 
confidently  trusted  for  the  defence  of  Piedmont ;  but 
as  this  design  could  not  be  concealed  from  the  French 
scouts,  Francis  no  sooner  ascertained  his  intention, 
than  he  hastened  to  provide  for  the  victualling  of  his 
troops,  and  impressed  a  large  number  of  horses,  which 
he  loaded  with  the  produce  of  the  adjacent  provinces, 
for  the  supply  of  the  camp. 

As,  however,  the  greatest  difficulty  against  which 
the  army  had  to  contend  was  the  passage  of  the  Suze, 
he  at  once  issued  orders  for  the  march  of  his  vanguard 
under  the  Dauphin  and  Montmorenci;  who,  on  arriv- 
ing at  the  entrance  of  the  pass,  found  the  imperialists 
already  awaiting  them  behind  their  intrenchments.  As 
the  Marechal  instantly  perceived  that  it  would  be 
vain  to  attack  them  in  front,  it  was  decided  that  a  por- 
tion of  the  troops  should  endeavour  to  ascend  the  two 
precipitous  heights,  hitherto  considered  to  be  inacces- 
sible, which  shut  in  and  commanded  the  defile. 

Notwithstanding  the  extreme  difficulty  and  danger 
of  such  an  enterprise,  it  was  successfully  accomplished 


iy6  Reign  of 

during  the  night,  and  with  so  much  caution,  that  Ce- 
sare  da  NapoH  never  once  had  cause  to  suspect  that  his 
position  was  hopelessly  forced ;  nor  was  it  until  dawn 
that  he  became  aware  of  the  perilous  emergency  in 
which  he  was  placed.  But  when,  as  morning  broke, 
the  imperialists  found  themselves  exposed  to  a  heavy 
fire  of  musketry  from  the  rocks,  against  which  they 
could  neither  shelter  nor  defend  themselves,  while 
their  intrenchments  were  vigorously  assailed  in  front 
by  the  main  body  of  the  troops  under  the  Dauphin  and 
the  Marechal,  they  were  not  long  ere  they  discovered 
that  the  post  which  they  had  hitherto  believed  to  be 
impregnable  was  not  even  tenable;  and  accordingly 
they  fled  in  such  haste  and  confusion,  that  they  aban- 
doned not  only  their  baggage,  but  also  the  store  of 
provisions  which  they  had  housed  in  the  town  of  Suze. 
Montmorenci  at  once  hastened  to  possess  himself  of 
the  important  pass  thus  abruptly  deserted ;  and  having 
strongly  garrisoned  both  the  town  and  the  fortress, 
descended  into  the  valley  to  await  the  arrival  of  the 
King  and  the  main  body  of  the  army. 

Del  Guasto  was  no  sooner  apprised  that  the  French 
had  made  themselves  masters  of  the  pass,  than  he 
raised  the  siege  of  Pignerol,  which,  but  for  this  fortu- 
nate occurrence,  would  have  been  shortly  compelled 
to  surrender  from  famine;  and  immediately  marched 
his  army  towards  Turin,  with  the  intention  of  taking 
that  city  while  the  enemy  were  engaged  in  securing 
their  new  conquest.  Montmorenci  had,  however,  fore- 
seen this  contingency,  and  willingly  yielded  to  the  so- 
licitations of  the  Dauphin,  who  pursued  the  imperialist 
general  so  vigorously,  that  he  compelled  him  to  pass 


Francis  I  177 

the  Po,  and  to  encamp  at  Montcalier.  As  the  Prince 
subsequently,  however,  relaxed  in  his  march  in  order 
to  possess  himself  of  some  small  fortresses  in  the 
neighbourhood,  as  well  as  to  reUeve  Turin,  where  the 
garrison  were  exposed  to  such  severe  privation  that 
they  had  been  reduced  to  subsist  on  horses,  rats,  and 
even  food  of  a  still  more  revolting  description,  the  Mar- 
quis resolved  to  re-cross  the  river,  and  intrench  him- 
self at  the  entrance  of  the  bridge;  but  the  Dauphin 
no  sooner  became  aware  of  this  movement,  than  he 
pressed  forward  in  the  hope  of  forcing  him  to  an  en- 
gagement. In  this  expectation  he  was,  however,  dis- 
appointed; as  Del  Guasto  immediately  returned  to 
his  camp,  and  finally  took  shelter  under  the  guns  of 
Ast;  while,  on  his  reaching  Montcalier,  the  Prince 
found  himself  in  possession  not  only  of  the  town,  but 
also  of  an  enormous  mass  of  grain,  which  sufficed  for 
the  support  of  the  garrison  of  Turin  throughout  the 
entire  year. 

The  French  troops,  having  strengthened  the  town, 
where  they  found  the  inhabitants  zealous  in  seconding 
their  measures,  next  encamped  at  Villedestellon,  near 
Guiers,  which  was  strongly  garrisoned  by  the  enemy. 
Constant  skirmishes  consequently  took  place,  and 
Montmorenci  had  determined  at  once  to  commence 
the  siege,  when  his  operations  were  suddenly  arrested 
by  a  courier  from  the  King,  who  conveyed  to  the  Mare- 
chal  his  express  commands  that  he  should  not  enter 
into  any  further  hostilities  until  he  was  himself  at  the 
head  of  his  army. 

The  mortification  alike  of  the  Dauphin  and  his  gen- 
eral exceeded  all  bounds  when  this  order  reached  them. 
Vol.  III.— 12 


lyS  Reign  of 

but  they  were  compelled  to  obey;  Francis,  still  un- 
taught by  experience,  was  jealous  of  the  successes  of 
his  own  son;  and  he  was,  moreover,  apprehensive 
that  his  enemies  might  attribute  his  diligence  in  over- 
running Piedmont  to  his  desire  of  forming  a  coalition 
with  Solyman  which  would  have  ensured  the  destruc- 
tion of  Italy,  and  rendered  his  name  odious  to  all 
Christendom;  it  being  matter  of  notoriety  that  the 
Sultan  was  at  that  moment  engaged  in  the  formation 
of  a  more  formidable  army  than  any  with  which  he  had 
previously  menaced  Europe,  and  that  his  fleet  was 
already  prepared  for  their  conveyance  to  the  Italian 
shores.  Under  these  circumstances,  therefore,  the 
French  King  preferred  the  alternative  of  terminating 
the  war  by  a  negotiation ;  and  pretexting  the  pledge 
which  he  had  given  to  the  Queen  of  Hungary,  he  not 
only  renewed  the  truce  already  accorded  to  the  Low 
Countries  for  three  additional  months,  but,  at  the  so- 
licitation of  the  Pope  and  the  Venetians,  extended  it 
to  Piedmont. 

The  document  authorizing  this  prolonged  cessation 
of  hostilities,  was  signed  on  the  i6th  of  November,  in 
the  presence  of  the  King  himself,  with  orders  that  it 
should  be  published  on  the  27th  of  the  same  month, 
and  that  immediately  after  its  promulgation  the  two 
armies  should  be  simultaneously  disbanded.  The  ar- 
rangement was  favourable  to  the  interests  of  both 
powers,  as  it  was  decreed  that  each  should  retain  the 
territory  of  which  he  had  possessed  himself  during  the 
campaign,  with  liberty  to  garrison  the  fortresses,  and 
strengthen  the  cities ;  its  only  victim  was  the  unfortu- 
nate Duke  of  Savoy,  whose  interests  were  thus  sacri- 


Francis  I  179 

fied  by  both  monarchs,  and  who  saw  himself  despoiled 
of  all  his  ducal  inheritance  save  the  city  and  citadel  of 
Nice. 

The  truce  was  no  sooner  officially  concluded,  than 
Francis,  having  disbanded  the  costly  army  which  he 
had  experienced  so  much  difficulty  in  raising,  re- 
passed the  Alps,  and  established  himself  at  Montpel- 
lier ;  having  appointed  M.  de  Montejan  his  lieutenant- 
general  in  Piedmont,  and  bestowed  upon  Guillaume 
du  Bellay  the  governorship  of  Turin.  He  then  de- 
spatched the  Cardinal  de  Lorraine  and  the  Marechal 
de  Montmorenci  to  Leucate,  to  meet  the  imperial  en- 
voys, who  were  authorized  on  the  part  of  the  Emperor 
to  enter  into  negotiations  for  eflfecting  a  permanent 
peace  between  the  two  hostile  sovereigns. 

The  proposals  that  were  transmitted  by  Charles  were 
no  longer  couched  in  the  arrogant  terms  which  he  had 
formerly  adopted.  He  offered  to  bestow  the  hand  of 
his  niece,  the  elder  daughter  of  the  King  of  the  Ro- 
mans, with  the  duchy  of  Milan  as  her  dowry,  upon 
Charles,  Due  d'Orleans,  on  condition  that  the  French 
King  would  confirm  the  treaties  of  Cambray  and  Mad- 
rid, restore  Hesdin  and  the  territories  of  the  Duke  of 
Savoy,  co-operate  with  himself  in  effecting  the  entire 
pacification  of  Europe,  and  consent  that  the  Due  d'Or- 
leans should  reside  at  the  imperial  court  for  three 
years  after  his  marriage;  or,  failing  this  concession, 
that  he  should  retain  the  fortresses  of  Milan  in  his  own 
possession  during  the  same  period. 

Although,  in  order  to  second  the  Emperor  in  the 
re-establishment  of  a  general  peace,  Francis  was  re- 
quired not  only  to  join  in  a  league  against  the  Turks, 


i8o  Reign  of 

but  also  to  abandon  the  German  Protestants,  he  raised 
no  objection  to  this  clause  of  the  treaty.  He  had  al- 
ready proved  that,  in  order  to  ensure  his  own  interests, 
he  could  desert  those  of  his  allies  without  compunc- 
tion; and  at  this  particular  period  nothing  could  be 
more  desirable  to  him  than  a  cessation  of  hostilities; 
but  the  demand  respecting  the  sojourn  of  his  son  in 
Spain,  or  his  cession  of  the  Milanese  cities,  appeared 
to  imply  some  covert  design  on  the  part  of  Charles,  to 
which  he  at  once  demurred.  On  the  loth  of  January, 
1538,  he  accordingly  replied  to  the  effect  that  he  held 
his  claim  to  the  duchy  to  be  indefeasible,  although  he 
was  willing  to  receive  it  as  the  dowry  of  the  Emperor's 
niece,  and  to  effect  a  marriage  between  her  and  his 
son ;  but  that  he  considered  it  only  just  that  he  should 
either  retain  his  fortresses,  or  receive  those  of  Milan 
simultaneously  with  their  evacuation. 

As  neither  power  appeared  disposed  to  yield  this 
point,  the  ministers  on  both  sides  agreed  to  prolong 
the  truce  until  the  1st  of  June ;  and  at  the  close  of  the 
congress  the  French  ambassadors  hastened  to  rejoin 
Francis  at  Moulins,  where  he  was  awaiting  the  result 
of  the  negotiation,  in  order  to  acquaint  him  with  the 
obstacles  which  opposed  themselves  to  the  project  of 
peace  that  had  been  mooted  by  the  Emperor. 

At  this  period  the  favour  of  Montmorenci  had 
reached  its  culminating  point.  He  was,  as  we  have 
shown,  already  a  marshal  and  grand-master  of  France ; 
but  there  was  still  a  higher  dignity  to  be  attained ;  and 
it  was  precisely  at  Moulins,  the  capital  of  Bourbon's 
appanage, — at  Moulins,  where  the  King  had  once  con- 
descended to  visit  the  rebel  Duke,  on  what  was  af- 


Francis  I  i8i 

firmed  to  be  a  bed  of  sickness, — that  he  conferred  the 
sword  of  Connetable  (which  had  remained  unappropri- 
ated since  the  defection  of  that  Prince),  upon  Montmo- 
renci,  as  a  reward  for  the  valuable  services  which  he 
had  rendered  to  France  during  the  war  in  Italy ;  while 
at  the  same  time  he  confided  to  him  the  absolute  dis- 
posal of  his  finances.  This  ceremony  took  place  on 
the  loth  of  February,  with  extreme  magnificence,  in 
the  presence  of  the  Princes  and  all  the  great  nobles  of 
the  state;  and  when  the  new  Connetable  had  been  duly 
invested  with  the  insignia  of  his  exalted  office,  the 
baton  of  Marechal,  vacant  by  his  promotion,  was  be- 
stowed upon  the  Admiral  d'Annebaut;  and  that  of 
Fleuranges,  who  had  fallen  at  Peronne,  upon  M.  de 
Montejan. 

In  the  spring  of  this  year,  the  Chancellor  Antoine  du 
Bourg,  who  was  following  in  the  train  of  the  King  on 
his  return  to  Lyons,  was  thrown  from  his  mule ;  and, 
owing  to  the  density  of  the  crowd,  was  so  severely 
trampled  upon  by  the  horses  of  the  royal  retinue,  that 
he  expired  before  he  could  be  removed  from  the  spot. 
He  was  succeeded  in  his  office  by  Guillaume  Poyet, 
the  president  of  the  Parliament,  who  had  rendered  him- 
self conspicuous  from  the  part  which  he  had  taken  in 
the  process  sustained  by  Louise  de  Savoie  against  the 
Due  de  Bourbon. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Paul  III.  Endeavours  to  Effect  a  Reconciliation  between  the 
Emperor  and  the  French  King — A  Meeting  of  the  Three 
Potentates  is  Proposed  at  Nice — Alarm  of  the  Duke  of 
Savoy — He  Appeals  to  the  Emperor — His  Envoy  is  Coldly 
Received — The  Populace  of  Nice  Close  Their  Gates  against 
the  Pope — Peril  of  Queen  Eleonora — The  Pope  Mediates  be- 
tween the  Two  Sovereigns — The  Truce  is  Renewed  for  a 
Period  of  Ten  Years — The  Three  Potentates  Separate — 
Destitution  of  the  Duke  of  Savoy — The  Emperor  Despatches 
an  Ambassador  to  Francis — The  Two  Sovereigns  Meet  at 
Aigues-Mortes — La  Belle  Feronniere — Illness  of  the  French 
King — Increasing  Power  of  Montmorenci — Revolt  of  Ghent 
— Charles  V.  Obtains  Permission  to  Traverse  the  French 
Territories — Madame  d'Etampes  and  the  Connetable — A 
Court  Intrigue — A  Court  Buffoon — The  Enamelled  Chain — 
Montmorenci  Loses  the  Favour  of  the  King. 

THE  menacing  position  assumed  by  the  Sultan,  and 
the  consequent  jeopardy  of  the  Italian  states, 
had  excited  the  apprehensions  of  Paul  III. ;  who,  aware 
that  he  could  effect  nothing  so  long  as  the  Emperor 
and  the  French  King  remained  at  enmity,  took  ad- 
vantage of  the  momentary  pause  aflforded  by  the  truce 
to  attempt  their  reconciliation.  In  order  to  accomplish 
this  object,  he  despatched  a  legate  to  each  sovereign, 
through  whom  he  entreated  them  to  meet  at  some 

182 


Francis  I  183 

convenient  spot  on  the  frontiers  of  Provence;  volun- 
teering, should  they  accede  to  his  request,  despite  his 
great  age,  (for  he  had  already  attained  his  seventy-fifth 
year,)  to  join  them  there,  and  to  act  as  a  mediator  be- 
tween them.  In  conclusion,  he  proposed  Nice  as  an 
eligible  place  for  the  conference ;  a  suggestion  which 
filled  the  Duke  of  Savoy  with  consternation,  that  city 
being  the  sole  portion  of  his  duchy  which  still  remained 
to  him. 

Such  a  proposal,  coming  as  it  did  not  only  from  the 
head  of  the  Church,  but  also  from  an  aged  man  whose 
infirmities  rendered  so  long  a  journey  a  fatiguing  and 
even  dangerous  undertaking,  admitted  of  no  hesitation 
on  the  part  of  either  monarch;  although  the  French 
King,  after  he  had  declared  his  readiness  to  meet  His 
Holiness  whensoever  and  wheresoever  he  should  see 
fit  to  appoint,  hesitated  to  fulfil  his  promise  when  he 
was  apprised  that  the  Pontiff  hoped  during  his  inter- 
view with  the  Emperor,  to  obtain  the  imperial  consent 
to  a  marriage  between  his  nephew  Ottavio  Farnese, 
the  elder  son  of  the  Duke  of  Parma,  and  Marguerite 
d'Autriche,  the  natural  daughter  of  Charles ;  whose 
husband,  Alessandro  de'  Medici,  had  been  assassinated 
during  the  previous  year.  The  French  ambassador  at 
the  papal  court,  and  the  Cardinal  de  Macon,  having 
ventured  to  hint  to  His  Holiness  that  this  project  was 
displeasing  to  their  sovereign,  Paul  HI.  answered  with 
considerable  asperity ;  and  then,  after  a  moment's  re- 
flection, he  inquired  with  a  slight  shade  of  sarcasm  if 
it  were  forbidden  for  a  Pope  to  ally  his  family  with 
that  of  a  sovereign  prince;  adding,  that  the  King  of 
France  might,  should  he  so  will  it,  confer  the  same 


1 84  Reign  of 

honour  upon  the  house  of  Farnese  as  the  Emperor, 
by  admitting  one  of  its  members  into  his  own. 

Meanwhile  the  Duke  of  Savoy,  who,  as  we  have 
already  shown,  began  to  apprehend  that  he  should  lose 
the  last  remnant  of  his  territories  if  he  permitted  the 
conference  of  the  three  potentates  to  be  held  at  Nice, 
despatched  an  envoy  to  Charles  V.  to  entreat  that  he 
would  not  compel  him  to  resign  his  citadel  to  the  Pope  ; 
and  while  awaiting  his  reply,  he  declared  to  a  chamber- 
lain whom  the  Pontiff  had  sent  to  make  the  request, 
that  he  could  not  take  so  important  a  step  without  the 
consent  of  the  Emperor.  The  messenger  met  Charles 
at  Villa  Franca,  where  he  communicated  the  request 
of  his  master;  but  in  answer  to  the  entreaties  of  the 
Duke,  the  Emperor  coldly  remarked  that  he  would 
advise  M.  de  Savoie  to  comply  with  the  request  of  His 
Holiness  without  further  delay. 

Before  this  mortifying  intelligence  was  made  known 
to  him,  the  Duke  received  a  visit  from  the  Vicomte  de 
Martigues  and  the  Bishop  of  Lausanne,  who  strongly 
urged  him  to  refuse  the  use  of  the  citadel  to  the 
Pope ;  and  assured  him,  on  the  part  of  the  Connetable 
de  Montmorenci,  that  in  the  event  of  his  desiring  to 
form  a  closer  alliance  with  France,  either  in  his  own 
person,  or  that  of  his  son  the  Prince  of  Piedmont,  the 
King  would  readily  consent  to  his  wishes.  The  Duke, 
however,  had  long  learnt  to  mistrust  the  promises  of 
his  selfish  allies  ;  and  he  accordingly  answered  without 
hesitation,  that  he  was  grateful  for  the  honour  which 
was  proposed  to  him,  but  that  having  so  recently  lost 
his  wife,  he  had  no  intention  of  contracting  a  second 
marriage,  while  his  son  was  too  young  to  avail  himself 


Francis  I  185 

of  the  proffered  privilege ;  but  that  if,  instead  of  so  high 
an  alliance,  his  Majesty  would  graciously  reinstate  him 
in  his  possessions,  he  should  consider  himself  his  debtor 
to  the  last  hour  of  his  life. 

Finding  from  the  reply  of  the  Emperor  that  he  had 
no  other  resource,  the  Duke,  who  was  still  as  unwilling 
as  before  to  admit  the  two  belligerent  sovereigns  with- 
in his  last  stronghold,  and  who  was,  at  the  same  time, 
too  timid  openly  to  oppose  his  imperial  master,  de- 
termined to  have  recourse  to  the  citizens,  to  whom  he 
represented  the  inevitable  consequences  of  introducing 
a  foreign  garrison  into  the  citadel;  and,  as  he  had 
anticipated,  his  arguments  were  so  ably  seconded  by 
their  own  fears,  that  when  the  officers  of  the  Pope's 
household  arrived  to  prepare  the  apartments  allotted 
to  him  for  his  reception,  all  the  population  rose  en 
masse,  declaring  that  the  entrance  of  foreign  troops 
into  their  city  was  an  infringement  upon  their  privi- 
leges to  which  they  would  never  consent ;  and  having 
announced  this  determination,  they  proceeded  without 
further  delay  to  close  their  gates.  The  Pope,  who  soon 
after  reached  Nice,  was  accordingly  compelled  to  take 
up  his  residence  at  the  monastery  of  San  Francisco  in 
the  suburbs ;  while  the  Emperor  cast  anchor  at  Villa 
Franca,  a  little  port  in  the  states  of  Monaco,  where  he 
remained  on  board  his  galley;  and  Francis,  accom- 
panied by  Queen  Eleonora,  the  Queen  of  Navarre,  the 
Dauphiness,  and  his  two  sons,  established  himself  at 
Villa  Nuova,  about  two  miles  distant. 

Before  the  conference  was  opened,  the  French  Queen 
proceeded  to  Villa  Franca  by  sea  to  visit  her  brother, 
who  had  caused  a  wooden  pier  to  be  constructed  for 


1 86  Reign  of 

her  accommodation  from  the  point  at  which  she  must 
cast  anchor  to  the  port ;  and  as  she  left  her  galley  he 
advanced  along  this  pier  to  receive  and  conduct  her  on 
shore,  when  the  frail  fabric  gave  way  beneath  their 
weight,  and  they  were  both  precipitated  into  the  sea, 
with  several  of  their  attendants.  Fortunately,  prompt 
assistance  being  at  hand,  the  whole  party  were  quickly 
rescued  from  their  perilous  situation. 

Although  the  two  sovereigns  had  thus  become  close 
neighbours,  the  Pope  could  not  prevail  upon  them  to 
consent  to  a  personal  interview ;  and  he  consequently 
expressed  his  willingness  to  negotiate  between  them, 
A  marquee  was  accordingly  pitched  in  the  court  of  the 
convent,  in  which  he  twice  received  the  Emperor,  and 
subsequently  the  French  King  and  his  sons ;  while  the 
royal  ladies  by  whom  Francis  was  accompanied,  in 
their  turn  made  visits  both  to  Charles  and  the  Pontiff. 

During  these  interviews  Paul  III.  endeavoured  by 
every  argument  in  his  power  to  reconcile  the  jarring 
interests  of  the  two  jealous  potentates,  and  proposed 
sundry  conditions  and  concessions  by  which  the  peace 
which  he  so  earnestly  desired  might  be  concluded  j  but 
while  he  was  enabled  to  overrule  every  other  objection 
on  both  sides,  he  found  himself  powerless  on  the  sub- 
ject of  the  Milanese ;  and  he  was  finally  compelled  to 
content  himself  with  effecting  a  renewal  of  the  truce 
for  ten  years,  during  which  time  he  hoped  to  carry  into 
execution  the  offensive  league  into  which  he  had  en- 
tered with  the  Emperor  and  the  Venetian  states  against 
the  Infidels. 

The  truce  was  no  sooner  signed  than  Francis  left 
Villa  Nuova  for  Avignon,  while  the  Pope  returned  to 


Francis  I  187 

Rome,  and  the  Emperor  proceeded  by  sea  to  Barce- 
lona ;  and  meanwhile  the  ih-fated  Duke  of  Savoy,  who 
had  incurred  the  displeasure  of  both  potentates,  by  each 
of  whom  he  was  openly  charged  with  having  excited 
the  revolt  of  the  citizens  of  Nice,  found  himself  even 
more  powerless  than  ever,  the  whole  remaining  por- 
tion of  his  territories  being  possessed  by  the  two  bellig- 
erent sovereigns,  who  were  severally  fortifying  their 
strongholds  within  his  dominions  with  a  deliberate 
caution  which  rendered  him  hopeless  of  their  ultimate 
recovery.  He  was,  moreover,  fated  to  undergo 
another  and  a  crowning  mortification  a  few  months 
subsequently,  when  the  Connetable,  on  the  part  of 
Francis,  proposed  to  him  to  exchange  the  county  of 
Nice  for  lands  in  France  to  the  value  of  twenty  thou- 
sand annual  crowns.  The  despoiled  Duke  could  ill 
brook  this  last  degradation,  and  declined  the  offer  with 
an  asperity  and  vehemence  unusual  to  him ;  declaring 
that  he  had  already  been  victimised  sufficiently  both  by 
his  friends  and  by  his  enemies ;  and  that  although  he 
now  held  little  of  his  duchy  save  the  empty  title  which 
it  had  conferred  upon  him,  he  would,  nevertheless,  at 
least  live  and  die  Count  of  Nice,  He,  moreover,  as  if 
to  give  additional  weight  to  this  declaration,  imme- 
diately adopted  a  new  device,  which  consisted  of  a 
naked  arm  grasping  a  sword,  with  the  motto  Spoliatis 
arma  supersunt;  but,  as  he  had  never  been  remarkable 
for  his  prowess  in  the  field,  this  empty  vaunt  only  ex- 
cited the  contempt  of  his  oppressors. 

Contrary  winds  having  compelled  the  Emperor, 
while  on  his  return  to  Spain,  to  cast  anchor  at  the 
island  of  St.  Marguerite,  he  despatched  from  thence  a 


1 88  Reign  of 

nobleman  to  Avignon  to  greet  the  French  monarch, 
and  to  express  his  desire  to  have  an  interview  with 
him  ;  for  which  purpose  he  offered,  should  his  proposal 
be  accepted,  to  land  at  Aigues-Mortes. 

Francis,  equally  surprised  and  gratified,  eagerly  ac- 
ceded to  the  proposition ;  and,  in  order  to  show  his 
confidence  in  the  good  faith  and  friendly  intentions  of 
his  imperial  visitor,  he  proceeded  without  further  de- 
lay to  Marseilles,  where  he  rowed  off  in  his  barge  to 
the  galley  of  Charles  to  bid  him  welcome.  As  he 
reached  the  vessel,  the  Emperor  extended  his  hand  to 
assist  him  in  gaining  the  deck,  and  responded  by  an 
affectionate  salutation  to  his  smiling  address  of — 
"  Brother,  here  I  am  once  more  your  prisoner."  This 
proof  of  confidence,  as  it  subsequently  appeared,  was 
fully  appreciated  by  the  Emperor;  for  when,  at  the 
close  of  a  long  and  friendly  conference,  during  which 
he  had  requested  the  French  King  to  admit  Doria  to 
his  presence,  and  the  Genoese  admiral  had  been  cour- 
teously received,  the  latter  requested  permission  to  set 
sail  with  Francis  on  board,  and  thus  terminate  the  war, 
his  proposition  was  indignantly  rejected. 

On  the  following  day  the  Emperor  landed  at  Aigues- 
Mortes,  where  he  was  received  with  great  magnifi- 
cence; and  the  two  courts  vied  with  each  other  in 
courtesy  and  friendHness.  Every  appearance  of  jeal- 
ousy or  hostility  was  at  an  end,  and  the  most  complete 
confidence  was  exhibited  on  both  sides.  But  perhaps 
the  most  happy  individual  of  that  courtly  circle  was  the 
Queen,  who,  after  having  long  despaired  of  a  recon- 
ciliation between  her  brother  and  her  husband,  now 
saw  them  seated  sicje  by  side  in  the  most  familiar  con- 


Francis  I  189 

versation.  The  principal  officers  of  both  sovereigns 
were  admitted  to  the  presence ;  and  every  allusion  to 
former  meetings  of  a  less  amicable  nature  was  mutually 
avoided.  The  Dauphin  and  Dauphiness,  the  Queen  of 
Navarre,  and  the  Duchesse  d'Etampes  were  severally 
presented  to  the  Emperor,  who  expressed  his  admira- 
tion of  the  galaxy  of  beauty  by  which  his  brother- 
monarch  was  surrounded.  None  would  have  sup- 
posed, while  gazing  on  the  brilliant  group  assembled  in 
that  obscure  seaport,  that  it  included  the  two  enemies 
who  had  so  long  troubled  the  peace  of  Europe,  and 
made  all  the  interests  of  Christendom  subservient  to 
their  ambition. 

The  festivals  continued  for  four  days ;  and  while  the 
nobles  and  ladies  of  the  two  courts  were  occupied  by 
pleasure  and  gallantry,  several  long  and  secret  inter- 
views took  place  between  the  sovereigns  to  which  none 
were  admitted  save  the  Queen,  the  Cardinal  of  Lor- 
raine, and  the  Connetable  on  the  part  of  France ;  and 
Granvelle,  the  keeper  of  the  seals,  and  the  Grand  Com- 
mander Gouvea,  on  that  of  the  Emperor.  The  sub- 
ject of  their  discussions  was  not  made  public,  but  they 
nevertheless  tended  to  increase  the  alarm  of  the  Duke 
of  Savoy,  who  hastened  to  ratify  the  truce  by  which  he 
was  despoiled  of  his  territories,  and  which  he  had 
hitherto  refused  to  do  ;  lest  he  should  draw  down  upon 
himself  the  further  hostility  of  the  two  sovereigns,  thus 
suddenly  and  inexplicably  reconciled. 

On  his  return  to  his  capital,  Francis  plunged  once 
more  into  an  abyss  of  dissipation ;  and  regardless  alike 
of  his  failing  health  and  his  regal  dignity,  vied  in 
profligacy  with  his  arrogant  mistress.     Satiated  with 


190  Reign  of 

the  affectations  of  the  court  beauties,  and  the  cere- 
monious restraints  of  his  own  circle,  he  at  this  period 
sought  his  conquests  in  a  more  humble  sphere  of  so- 
ciety; and,  in  order  the  more  readily  to  pursue  his 
intrigues,  adopted  the  habit  of  disguising  himself  as  an 
archer  of  the  royal  guard,  in  which  guise  he  was  ac- 
customed at  twilight  to  perambulate  the  streets  of  the 
city.  On  one  of  these  excursions  he  was  attracted  by 
the  extreme  loveliness  of  a  fair  citizen,  the  wife  of  an 
armourer,  who  chanced  as  he  passed  to  be  standing 
at  the  door  of  her  dwelling,  conversing  with  a  neigh- 
bour ;  and  after  having  remained  for  a  moment  stead- 
fastly gazing  upon  her  animated  face  and  graceful 
figure,  he  beckoned  as  he  moved  on  to  a  chamberlain 
by  whom  he  was  accompanied,  and  with  a  significant 
gesture  drew  his  attention  to  the  unconscious  beauty. 

"  You  will  recognise  the  house  ?  "  he  said  in  a  low 
voice. 

"  Readily,  Sire." 

"  Enough.  The  day  after  to-morrow  I  shall  be  at 
the  chateau  of  Madrid." 

His  attendant  bowed  in  silence ;  and  ere  long  the 
King  returned  to  the  palace  of  the  Tournelles. 

The  royal  confidant  had  no  sooner  been  dismissed 
than  he  mounted  his  horse  and  retraced  his  steps  to 
the  Rue  de  Fer ;  where,  pretexting  business,  he  entered 
the  shop  of  the  armourer,  during  whose  absence  from 
home  his  beautiful  partner  was  accustomed  to  superin- 
tend the  commercial  interests  of  the  house.  The  ap- 
pearance of  such  a  customer,  even  at  that  somewhat 
untimely  hour,  failed  to  excite  any  suspicion  of  his 
mptive  in  La  belle  Feronniere;  nor  was  it  until  he 


Francis  I  191 

changed  the  discourse  from  the  casques  and  corselets 
amid  which  they  stood,  to  a  more  tender  subject,  that 
she  discovered  the  imprudence  of  which  she  had  been 
guilty.  After  having  exhausted  himself  in  the  most 
hyperbolical  admiration  of  her  attractions,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  appease  her  indignation  at  his  impertinence, 
by  declaring  that  she  totally  misapprehended  the  pur- 
pose of  his  visit ;  which  was,  as  he  asserted,  to  inform 
her  that  the  Queen,  who  was  desirous  to  retain  about 
her  person  the  most  beautiful  women  of  the  kingdom, 
having  chanced  to  see  her  during  one  of  her  progresses 
through  the  city,  had  been  struck  by  her  appearance, 
and  desired  to  establish  her  in  her  household. 

For  a  time  the  young  and  timid  woman  stood 
abashed,  assuring  the  messenger  that  he  must  be  mis- 
taken, as  neither  her  birth  nor  her  position  entitled  her 
to  so  much  honour ;  but  the  reiterated  assurances  and 
dazzling  promises  of  the  royal  emissary  at  length  pro- 
duced their  effect,  and  she  consented  to  accompany  him 
to  the  palace  of  the  Tournelles,  where  he  declared  that 
she  would  be  instantly  admitted  to  the  presence  of  the 
Queen. 

Having  closely  enveloped  herself  in  her  hood  and 
mantle,  the  fair  citizen  finally  permitted  herself  to  be 
lifted  upon  the  pillion  with  which  her  treacherous  com- 
panion had  come  provided;  but  it  was  not  long  ere 
she  discovered  that,  instead  of  proceeding  towards  the 
palace,  they  were  travelling  in  a  totalfy  different  di- 
rection ;  and  they  had  consequently  no  sooner  reached 
the  gate  by  which  they  were  about  to  leave  the  city, 
than  she  called  loudly  for  help,  when  a  party  of  the 
night-watch,  alarmed  by  her  cries,  hastily  seized  their 


192  Reign  of 

arms,  and  attempted  to  arrest  the  progress  of  her 
ravisher.  We  have,  however,  already  shown  that  the 
civic  guard  of  Paris  was  composed  of  men  who  cared 
little  to  expose  themselves  to  danger;  and,  accordingly, 
they  no  sooner  saw  two  of  their  number  cut  down  by 
the  undaunted  horseman,  than  they  fell  back,  and 
abandoned  the  terrified  victim  to  her  fate. 

Whatever  might  have  been  the  original  scruples  of 
La  belle  Feronniere,  it  is  certain  that  she  soon  became 
reconciled  to  her  fate;  and  that  the  splendour  of  a 
royal  palace,  and  the  prestige  of  a  royal  lover,  sufficed 
to  blind  her  to  her  moral  degradation ;  but  this  liaison, 
which  soon  became  the  fable  of  all  Paris,  was  not  des- 
tined to  be  of  long  endurance,  the  increasing  infirmi- 
ties of  the  King  compelling  him  to  restore  her  to  her 
family  at  the  expiration  of  three  months,  at  once  en- 
riched and  disgraced. 

The  extreme  beauty  of  this  woman,  whose  real 
station  in  life  has  never  been  thoroughly  ascertained ; 
and  of  whose  rank  and  position  we  have,  consequently, 
been  compelled  to  adopt  the  most  popular  version,  was 
so  remarkable,  that  although  an  intrigue  of  such  brief 
duration  might  well  have  been  passed  over  in  silence, 
her  name  has  become  matter  of  history;  and  the  life 
of  Francis  I.  would,  consequently,  be  incomplete  were 
the  episode  of  La  belle  Feronniere  omitted.  Her  por- 
trait, which  adorns  the  Musee  at  Paris,  is  one  of  sur- 
passing loveliness ;  the  forehead  is  high  and  smooth, 
the  eyes  large,  dove-like,  and  expressive,  the  nose 
finely  shaped,  the  mouth  faultless,  and  the  whole  out- 
line of  the  face  full  of  feminine  grace  and  dignity. 

About  this  period  Francis  was  attacked  by  so  severe 


Francis  I  193 

an  indisposition,  that  he  was  for  a  considerable  time 
unable  to  attend  to  the  business  of  the  state,  the  whole 
of  which  devolved  upon  Montmorenci,  who  assumed 
an  authority  to  which  no  former  Connetable  had  ever 
aspired.  His  avowed  admiration  of  the  Emperor,  and 
his  equally  undisguised  aversion  to  Henry  VHL, 
awoke  the  misgivings  of  many  of  the  higher  nobility, 
especially  those  of  the  ambassadors  at  the  several 
European  courts,  who  still  felt  the  same  mistrust  of 
the  motives  of  Charles  V.,  as  they  had  previously  en- 
tertained ;  and  who  were  loud  in  their  regrets  that 
France  should  for  his  sake  deprive  herself  of  the  allies 
which  it  had  cost  her  so  much  blood  and  gold  to 
secure.  Montmorenci,  however,  haughtily  disre- 
garded their  representations,  and  thus  unconsciously 
laid  the  foundation  of  his  own  overthrow. 

The  policy  of  the  Emperor  in  thus  suddenly,  and 
with  such  apparent  inconsistency,  seeking  the  friend- 
ship of  the  French  monarch,  soon  revealed  itself.  The 
expenses  of  the  war  having  compelled  him  to  levy  new 
imposts  upon  his  subjects,  he  had,  in  1536,  directed 
Queen  Marie,  the  governante  of  the  Low  Countries, 
to  raise  a  sum  of  money  in  Flanders,  by  taxation  or 
otherwise,  which  might  enable  him  to  pursue  his  opera- 
tions. In  compliance  with  this  command  she  pro- 
ceeded to  levy  a  subsidy  of  one  million  two  hundred 
thousand  florins  on  the  Flemish  provinces,  of  which 
the  city  of  Ghent  was  to  furnish  the  sum  of  four  hun- 
dred thousand.  To  this  imposition  the  citizens  reso- 
lutely refused  to  submit ;  alleging  that  by  the  ancient 
privileges  conceded  to  their  city,  they  were  exempted 
from  the  payment  of  all  taxes ;  and  as  they  persisted 
Vol.  III.— 13 


194  Reign  of 

in  their  refusal,  the  Queen,  in  order  to  terrify  them 
into  submission,  caused  several  of  the  principal  in- 
habitants to  be  arrested,  and  declared  her  determina- 
tion to  retain  them  as  prisoners  until  her  orders  were 
obeyed.  Firm  in  their  resistance,  the  Ghentese  dis- 
regarded her  menaces ;  and  for  nearly  a  year,  during 
which  their  relatives  and  townsmen  remained  her  cap- 
tives, they  contested  the  point ;  and,  finally,  in  August, 
1537,  they  presented  a  petition  to  the  governante,  in 
which  they  set  forth  in  detail  the  privileges  which  had 
been  accorded  to  them  by  former  sovereigns,  and  by 
virtue  of  which  they  were,  as  they  had  stated,  exempted 
from  taxation. 

In  reply  to  this  document  the  Queen-dowager  in- 
formed them  that  she  would  cause  their  claims  to 
exemption  to  be  duly  investigated,  either  by  her  own 
council,  or  by  the  Parliament  of  Malines,  but  that 
meanwhile  they  must  furnish  their  quota  to  the  general 
subsidy ;  a  decision  by  which  they  were  so  much  exas- 
perated, that  they  immediately  determined  to  revolt 
against  her  authority.  The  citizens,  accordingly  flew 
to  arms,  compelled  the  imperial  officers  to  leave  the 
city,  and  took  possession  of  several  fortified  places  in 
the  environs,  declaring  that  they  recognised  no  sov- 
ereign save  the  King  of  France ;  to  whom  they  at  the 
same  time  appealed  for  protection,  pledging  them- 
selves, should  he  afford  them  his  support,  to  render 
him  master  of  the  whole  of  the  Low  Countries. 

The  opportunity  was  tempting;  and  there  can  be 
little  doubt  that  had  the  Emperor  received  such  a 
proposition  from  a  revolted  province  of  France,  he 
would  have  evinced  no  hesitation  in  acceding  to  the 


Francis  I  195 

request ;  but  Francis,  with  a  more  generous  policy,  (in 
which  he  was  strengthened  by  the  advice  of  Mont- 
morenci  and  the  entreaties  of  the  Queen,)  not  only 
refused  to  accept  an  allegiance  extorted  by  fear,  but 
even  hastened  to  apprise  his  brother-monarch  of  the 
menacing  attitude  assumed  by  his  Flemish  subjects. 

Charles  V.  was  no  sooner  made  aware  of  the  extent 
of  the  emergency  than  he  resolved  to  proceed  to  the 
Low  Countries,  and  to  effect  the  immediate  suppres- 
sion of  the  rebellious  faction,  which  was  becoming  daily 
more  formidable ;  but  however  judicious  such  a  project 
could  not  fail  to  prove,  there  were  serious  obstacles 
to  its  accomplishment.  In  order  to  reach  this  portion 
of  his  dominions  it  was  necessary  that  the  Emperor 
should  either  make  his  way  through  Italy  into  Ger- 
many, where  the  animosity  of  the  Protestant  Princes 
would  render  it  necessary  for  him  to  be  accompanied 
by  a  strong  army,  in  which  case  he  might  be  sub- 
jected by  casualties  to  a  delay  that  would  enable  the 
Ghentese  to  strengthen  their  position,  and  thus  frus- 
trate the  object  of  his  journey;  or  by  sea,  where,  in 
the  event  of  contrary  winds,  he  might  be  cast  upon  the 
English  coast,  and  so  fall  into  the  hands  of  Henry 
VIII.,  with  whom  he  was  at  that  moment  at  open 
enmity ;  or,  finally,  through  France,  which  was  at  once 
the  shortest  and  surest  route.  Had  Charles  V.  been 
possessed  of  less  skill  in  physiology  than  he  displayed 
upon  this  occasion,  it  is  probable  that  this  would  never- 
theless have  been  his  last  alternative;  but  he  was  so 
well  acquainted  with  the  peculiar  disposition  of  the 
French  King,  that  he  unhesitatingly  determined  to 
confide  in  his  generosity.     He  had,  moreover,  as  he 


196  Reign  of 

was  aware,  a  warm  partisan  in  the  then  all-powerful 
Connetable ;  nor  did  he  fail  to  calculate  upon  the  in- 
fluence of  his  sister,  although  he  had  long  known  that 
her  position  at  the  court  was  at  once  onerous  and 
unhappy. 

Having  made  this  resolution,  he  directed  the  Bishop, 
of  Tarbes,  who  was  at  that  period  the  French  ambassa- 
dor at  his  court,  to  write  to  Montmorenci,  requesting 
him  to  obtain  the  consent  of  Francis  to  his  traversing 
the  French  territories,  in  order  to  reach  the  Low  Coun- 
tries with  greater  expedition;  and  pledging  himself 
that,  should  this  be  accorded,  he  would,  in  requital  of 
so  signal  a  favour,  at  once  meet  the  wishes  of  the 
French  King  by  investing  either  himself  or  one  of  his 
sons  with  the  sovereignty  of  the  duchy  of  Milan,  on 
condition  that  no  further  concessions  should  be  de- 
manded of  him. 

Francis,  having  convened  his  council,  decided  upon 
acceding  to  the  request ;  but  while  every  other  member 
of  the  assembly  insisted  that,  before  he  was  permitted 
to  pass  the  frontier,  Charles  should  be  compelled  to 
give  good  sureties  of  his  peaceable  intentions,  and  de- 
clare in  writing  that  he  traversed  the  French  soil  only 
upon  sufferance,  Montmorenci  alone  protested  against 
such  an  exhibition  of  distrust,  which  he  declared  to 
be  unworthy  of  so  great  a  monarch  as  Francis,  and 
calculated  to  lessen  his  dignity  in  the  eyes  of  the  very 
sovereign  upon  whom  he  was  about  to  confer  a  signal 
and  important  benefit. 

A  warm  discussion  took  place,  but  it  was  finally 
decided  by  the  King  that  the  advice  of  the  Connetable 
should  be  adopted;  and  that  the  Emperor  should  be 


Francis  I  197 

invited  to  enter  France,  not  only  unconditionally,  but 
also  that  hostages  should  be  offered  in  the  persons  of 
the  two  Princes  for  his  safety  during  his  sojourn  in  the 
country. 

This  was  fated  to  be  the  last  occasion  upon  which 
Montmorenci  was  enabled  to  prove  to  the  other  nobles 
of  the  court  the  extent  of  his  influence  over  the  mind 
of  the  monarch.  We  have  already  alluded  to  his  ro- 
mantic passion  for  the  Queen ;  and  Francis  had  no 
sooner  passed  from  the  council-chamber  to  the  apart- 
ments of  the  Duchesse  d'Etampes  to  announce  to  her 
the  approaching  advent  of  the  Emperor,  than  the  mine 
was  sprung  which  was  to  accomplish  his  overthrow. 

As  the  King  entered,  the  beautiful  favourite  was 
seated  before  her  toilette,  wrapped  in  a  robe  of  silver 
brocade,  and  almost  buried  in  the  cloud  of  luxuriant 
hair  which  one  of  her  women  was  preparing  to  bind 
up.  On  his  appearance  the  whole  of  the  attendants 
withdrew,  and  the  enamoured  monarch  hastened  to 
impart  his  tidings, 

"  And  this.  Sire,  if  I  understand  aright,"  said  the 
Duchess  with  a  supercilious  smile,  "  was  the  advice  of 
the  Connetable  ? " 

"  Even  so,  ma  mie,"  replied  Francis,  as  he  passed 
his  fingers  fondly  through  the  dark  tresses  which  fell 
from  the  tapestried  coffer  upon  which  Anne  de  Pisseleu 
was  seated,  to  the  ground.  "  And  it  appeared  to  me 
to  be  so  chivalrous,  and  so  high-hearted,  that  I  resolved 
at  once  to  follow  it.  You  will  be  glad  to  see  our 
brother  Charles  again,  shall  you  not  ?  On  the  faith  of 
a  gentleman!  he  esteemed  your  beauty  at  its  just 
value." 


198  Reign  of 

"  Her  Majesty  must  be  enraptured  at  such  a  pros- 
pect," said  the  insolent  mistress  with  the  same  equivo- 
cal expression,  and  totally  regardless  of  the  question 
put  by  the  King.  "  Montmorenci  is  an  able  cour- 
tier." 

"  Doubtlessly  it  will  afford  her  pleasure,"  replied  the 
monarch,  with  a  languid  yawn ;  "  I  will  desire  him  to 
acquaint  her  that  she  owes  this  gratification  in  some 
degree  to  his  agency." 

"  He  has,  in  all  probability,  already  accomplished  so 
agreeable  an  errand ;  "  spitefully  retorted  the  Duchess. 

"  Our  good  Connetable  is  assuredly  enamoured  of 
Charles  of  Austria ; "  replied  Francis,  as  he  listlessly 
unlocked  a  costly  casket  of  inlaid  sandal-wood  which 
stood  upon  the  toilet,  and  began  to  examine  the  jewels 
it  contained. 

"  His  imperial  Majesty  is  the  Queen's  brother,"  said 
Madame  d'Etampes,  still  maintaining  the  tone  of  bitter 
sarcasm  in  which  she  had  hitherto  indulged ;  "  but,  re- 
member, Sire,"  she  added  more  emphatically,  "  that, 
although  he  be  the  brother  of  your  Queen,  he  has  ever 
proved  himself  your  own  enemy ;  nor  do  I  anticipate 
that  you  will  henceforward  find  him  other  than  he  has 
been  to  this  day.  It  is  not  yet  too  late;  recall  your 
dangerous  resolution,  and  do  not  risk  the  safety  alike 
of  your  person  and  your  kingdom  in  order  to  afford 
to  M.  de  Montmorenci  the  privilege  of  extending  the 
'  good  morrows  '  for  which  he  is  so  famous," 

A  cloud  rose  to  the  brow  of  the  King,  which  was 
rapidly  succeeded  by  a  smile.  "  You  are  truly,  at  this 
moment,  refuting  those  calumniators,  Anne,"  he  said 
tenderly,  "  who  accuse  you  of  too  great  a  sensibility  for 
the  Connetable." 


Francis  I  199 

A  gesture  of  proud  disdain  was  the  only  reply  vouch- 
safed by  the  haughty  favourite. 

"  We  must  afiford  our  imperial  guest  a  splendid  wel- 
come," pursued  Francis  after  a  pause ;  "  we  must  give 
him  good  reason  to  remember  his  visit  to  our  do- 
minions." 

"  And  you  will  do  well,  Sire,"  said  the  Duchess 
eagerly.  "  Remember  Pavia,  remember  Madrid.  Let 
him  come,  since  such  is  your  will ;  but  once  in  France, 
suffer  him  not  to  repass  the  frontier  until  you  are 
revenged.  You  have  dungeons  as  secure  as  those  of 
the  Escurial,  and  jailors  as  sure  and  as  zealous  as 
M.  de  Lannoy." 

Francis  started.  "  You  cannot  be  serious,  Madame," 
he  said  incredulously. 

"  At  least.  Sire,"  persisted  Madame  d'Etampes,  "  I 
shall  not  be  unsupported  in  my  advice,  like  the  Conne- 
table ;  you  will  find  that  all  the  best  and  noblest  spirits 
in  France  will  counsel  you  as  I  do." 

As  she  uttered  this  assurance,  Triboulet,  the  King's 
jester,  a  misshapen  dwarf  who  was  permitted  to  intrude 
upon  his  privacy  at  all  hours,  and  to  whom  rumour 
assigned  an  office  about  the  monarch's  person  infinitely 
more  degrading  than  that  which  he  ostensibly  filled, 
quietly  entered  the  apartment ;  and  approaching  a  buf- 
fet, pouring  out  a  goblet  of  Malvoisie,  which  he  carried 
to  his  royal  master. 

"  Nevertheless,  I  am  resolved,"  said  Francis,  in  reply 
to  his  fair  companion ;  "  Charles  has  asked  for  a  safe 
passage  through  our  dominions,  and  he  shall  depart  as 
freely  as  he  comes." 

These  words  had  scarcely  passed  the  lips  of  the  King, 


200  Reign  of 

when  Triboulet,  replacing  the  yet  untasted  wine  upon 
the  buffet,  drew  an  ivory  tablet  from  the  pocket  of  his 
pourpoint,  and  deliberately  inscribed  some  characters 
upon  it. 

"  What  have  you  there,  maitre-fou?  "  asked  the  mon- 
arch, amused  by  the  assumed  solemnity  of  his  manner. 

"  I  am  making  a  fresh  entry  in  my  journal,  which  is 
filling  rapidly,"  was  the  calm  reply.  "  Men  have  called 
me  *  fool,'  but  I  have  my  revenge  daily ;  I  am  busied 
upon  a  catalogue  of  madmen,  and  I  shall  ere  long  be 
short  of  space." 

"  Let  me  see  this  famous  list,"  said  the  King,  ex- 
tending his  hand  for  the  tablets.  "  Why,  how  now. 
Sir !  "  he  exclaimed  angrily ;  "  when  did  you  venture 
to  add  the  name  of  my  imperial  brother  to  such  a 
record  as  this  ?  " 

"  Only  a  moment  back,"  answered  the  dwarf  per- 
fectly unmoved ;  "  when  I  heard  you  tell  fair  Madame 
Anne  that  he  was  about  to  visit  France." 

The  Duchess  laughed  triumphantly,  and  threw  a 
golden  coin  into  the  hand  of  the  jester. 

"  And  when  he  has  returned  to  his  own  dominions, 
sirrah,  what  will  you  next  do  ?  "  inquired  Francis. 

"  Then,"  said  Triboulet,  "  if,  indeed,  Charles  should 
ever  live  to  see  the  day  you  mention,  I  shall  efface  his 
name,  and  insert  yours." 

"  The  fool  speaks  wisdom,"  said  Madame  d'Etampes. 

"  It  may  be  so,"  was  the  reply  of  the  monarch,  "  but 
it  is  mere  worldly  wisdom,  and  unworthy  of  a  great 
sovereign.     I  will  not  recall  my  pledge." 

During  this  interview,  another  had  taken  place  be- 
tween the  Queen  and  the  Connetable,  which  was  des- 


Francis  I  201 

tined  to  involve  important  consequences.  Montmo- 
renci  had  related  in  detail  to  his  royal  mistress  the 
proceedings  that  had  taken  place  in  the  council,  and 
she  had  warmly  expressed  her  gratitude  for  the  emi- 
nent service  which  he  had  so  boldly  rendered  to  the 
Emperor.  With  true  feminine  tact  she  at  once  dis- 
covered the  motive  of  his  conduct ;  but  she,  neverthe- 
less, carefully  abstained  from  betraying  any  symptom 
of  such  a  conviction;  and  as  the  manner  of  Montmo- 
renci  became  more  impassioned,  she  gradually  assumed 
a  coldness  of  demeanour  which  was  foreign  to  her 
feelings. 

At  the  close  of  the  interview,  however,  conscious 
that  she  had  ill  responded  to  the  zeal  and  devotion  he 
had  displayed,  and  relieved,  by  his  absence,  from  the 
terror  of  misapprehension  which  his  presence  never 
failed  to  inspire,  she  became  anxious  to  convince  him 
that  she  was  less  insensible  to  his  good  offices  than  she 
had  striven  to  appear;  and  after  revolving  many  proj- 
ects in  her  mind,  unable  to  overcome  her  reluctance 
to  address  him  in  writing,  she  resolved  to  send  to  him, 
by  one  of  her  pages,  a  rich  chain  of  amber  set  in 
enamelled  gold,  which  had  been  wrought  for  her  in 
Florence,  and  was  of  great  value. 

It  chanced  upon  this  particular  occasion  that  a  slight 
indisposition  caused  the  Queen  to  receive  her  evening 
circle  in  her  own  apartments ;  and  as  she  had  hesitated 
for  a  long  time  ere  she  could  decide  on  the  propriety 
of  conferring  upon  the  Connetable  so  marked  a  token 
of  her  favour,  the  company  were  already  assembling 
when  she  confided  the  chain  to  her  messenger.  It 
happened  also,  that  by  a  singular  coincidence,  Francis, 


202  Reign  of 

who  had  never  hitherto  visited  the  Queen  save  by  the 
state  gallery,  was  induced,  by  some  sudden  caprice,  to 
avail  himself  of  a  private  staircase,  in  ascending  which 
he  encountered  the  page,  who  from  boyish  vanity  had 
flung  the  costly  chain  about  his  neck,  and  thus  deco- 
rated was  proceeding  to  perform  his  errand. 

The  quick  eye  of  the  King  enabled  him  at  a  glance 
to  recognise  the  ornament ;  and  as  the  startled  youth 
drew  back  to  allow  him  to  pass,  he  laid  his  hand  upon 
the  chain,  and  inquired  how  he  became  possessed  of 
so  costly  a  jewel.  The  page,  who  was  totally  uncon- 
scious of  the  necessity  of  concealment,  and  who  only 
apprehended  a  reprimand  for  his  presumption  in  hav- 
ing availed  himself  of  such  an  opportunity  to  gratify 
his  ostentatious  tastes,  unhesitatingly  replied  that  he 
had  been  entrusted  by  the  Queen  to  convey  it  to  the 
Connetable ;  at  the  same  time  accounting  for  the  fact 
of  its  being  suspended  from  his  own  neck,  by  declaring 
that,  in  his  dread  of  losing  it  by  the  way,  he  had  adopted 
that  method  as  the  most  secure;  and  imploring  the 
King  to  pardon  a  liberty  which  had  been  suggested  by 
caution. 

"  Fear  nothing,"  said  Francis  composedly ; "  you  are 
both  prudent  and  trustworthy ;  but  such  a  responsibil- 
ity is  too  great  for  your  age.  Give  me  the  chain.  I 
will  myself  deliver  it  to  M.  le  Connetable." 

The  page  obeyed,  and  the  amber  chain  was  placed 
in  the  hands  of  the  King,  who  at  once  threw  it  about 
his  own  neck,  and  then  pursued  his  way  to  the  Queen's 
apartments. 

The  amazement  and  alarm  of  Eleonora  may  be  con- 
ceived, when  as  she  rose  to  receive  her  royal  husband, 


Francis  I  203 

the  first  object  upon  which  her  eye  rested  was  the 
amber  chain,  rendered  unusually  conspicuous  by  the 
fact  that  Francis  wore  a  plain  pourpoint  of  maroon- 
coloured  velvet,  without  embroidery  of  any  description. 
He,  however,  approached  her  in  his  usual  courteous, 
but  cold  manner;  and,  after  having  made  a  few  civil 
inquiries  regarding  her  health,  without  any  allusion  to 
the  obnoxious  decoration,  turned  away  to  converse 
with  Madame  de  Breze. 

The  anticipated  arrival  of  the  Emperor  furnished 
ample  subject  for  conversation  throughout  the  even- 
ing ;  but  the  spirits  of  the  poor  Queen,  which  had  been 
greatly  elated  at  the  prospect  of  again  seeing  her  im- 
perial brother,  were  painfully  subdued  by  her  appre- 
hensions of  the  misconstruction  which  the  King  could 
not  fail  to  put  upon  the  motive  of  her  present  to  the 
Connetable ;  and  when  Montmorenci,  a  short  time  sub- 
sequently, drew  near  to  her  with  his  unvarying  "  good 
morrow,"  she  replied  by  a  bow  so  chilling  as  to  excite 
still  further  the  suspicions  of  Francis,  who  had  jeal- 
ously watched  the  meeting.  The  inferences  of  the 
Duchesse  d'Etampes  were  now  explained ;  and  al- 
though the  monarch  was  too  proud  to  betray  that  he 
was  conscious  of  a  rival  in  one  of  his  own  subjects,  and 
too  indifferent  to  his  royal  consort  to  feel  wounded  in 
his  affections,  he,  nevertheless,  conceived  a  hatred 
towards  the  Connetable  which  was  ere  long  fated  to 
produce  its  effect. 


CHAPTER  X. 

The  Emperor  Arrives  at  Bayonne — He  Refuses  to  Receive 
Hostages — The  Two  Sovereigns  Meet  at  Chatellerault — 
Triumphant  Reception  of  Charles  V. — Distrust  of  the  Em- 
peror— Unfortunate  Coincidences — The  Imperial  Retinue — 
A  Court  Ball — The  Diamond  Ring — The  Emperor  Enters 
Paris — The  French  Princes  and  Montmorenci  Accompany 
Him  to  Valenciennes — Charles  Refuses  to  Ratify  the  Ces- 
sion of  the  Milanese — Francis  Becomes  Suspicious  of  His 
Counsellors — Arrest  of  the  Marechal  de  Brion  Chabot — 
Chabot  is  Tried  and  Condemned  to  Death — Cruel  Policy  of 
Poyet — Chabot  is  Pardoned  by  the  King — Arrest  of  Poyet — 
Female  Influence  at  Court — Death  of  Chabot — The  Emperor 
Proposes  an  Alliance  between  His  Son  Philip  of  Spain  and 
the  Princess  of  Navarre — And  that  of  His  Own  Daughter 
and  the  Due  d'Orleans — Refusal  of  Francis  to  Comply  with 
the  Required  Conditions — Disappointment  of  the  King  and 
Queen  of  Navarre — The  Negotiation  is  Pursued — Marriage 
of  the  Due  de  Cleves  and  the  Princess  of  Navarre — Madame 
d'Etampes  and  the  Captain  of  the  King's  Guard — Exile  of 
Montmorenci  from  the  Court — The  Marriage  Festivities — 
The  Due  de  Cleves  Leaves  France — Benvenuto  Cellini  Ar- 
rives at  the  French  Court — Exile  of  the  Cardinal  de  Lor- 
raine. 

THE  Emperor  commenced  his  journey  without 
further  delay;  and  the  French  King  no  sooner 
learnt  that  he  was  on  his  way  to  the  frontier,  than, 
being  unable  from  illness  to  undertake  so  long  a  jour- 

304 


Francis  I  205 

ney,  he  commanded  the  two  Princes  and  the  Conne- 
table  to  proceed  to  Bayonne,  giving  them  express  in- 
junctions to  receive  the  imperial  visitor  with  every 
demonstration  of  respect  and  affection,  and  to  escort 
him  in  like  manner  to  the  capital. 

In  accordance  with  these  instructions  the  Dauphin, 
the  Due  d'Orleans,  and  Montmorenci,  accompanied 
by  a  great  number  of  the  court  nobles  sumptuously 
mounted  and  apparelled,  set  forth  in  time  to  reach  the 
city  before  the  arrival  of  Charles ;  and  the  Dauphin  had 
no  sooner  greeted  him  in  the  name  of  the  King,  than 
he  hastened,  according  to  the  directions  he  had  re- 
ceived, to  offer  himself  and  his  brother  as  hostages  to 
the  Emperor  until  he  should  have  reached  the  Low 
Countries.  Of  this  proposition,  however,  Charles 
under  the  circumstances  found  it  inexpedient  to  avail 
himself;  and  he  consequently  replied,  that,  after  the 
important  service  which  had  just  been  conferred  upon 
him  by  the  King  his  brother,  he  should  be  inexcusable 
did  he  entertain  the  slightest  suspicion  of  his  good 
faith.  The  august  party  accordingly  proceeded  in 
company  to  Bordeaux,  where  they  were  welcomed  with 
acclamation,  and  entertained  with  a  magnificence 
worthy  of  their  illustrious  rank.  During  a  long  so- 
journ in  that  city  the  favour  of  the  Connetable  daily 
increased  with  the  Emperor,  who  also  lavished  upon 
the  young  Princes  the  most  marked  tokens  of  regard 
and  affection ;  nor  was  it  without  apparent  reluctance 
that  he  at  length  resumed  his  progress  through  Xain- 
tonge  and  Poitiers  to  Chatelleraut,  where  Francis  was 
in  person  awaiting  his  imperial  guest;  and  whence, 
after  a  few  days  passed  in  splendid  festivity,  and  re- 


2o6  Rei<rn  of 


fe' 


ciprocal  assurances  of  friendship  and  confidence,  the 
two  sovereigns  and  their  brilliant  train  finally  set  for- 
ward to  the  capital. 

Throughout  the  whole  of  their  journey,  (which  oc- 
cupied a  considerable  time  in  consequence  of  the  prep- 
arations that  had  been  made  in  the  several  cities  by 
which  they  approached  Paris,  to  render  due  honours  to 
the  Emperor,)  all  the  local  nobility  and  militia  ac- 
companied the  royal  travellers  to  the  limits  of  their 
respective  communes;  and  although  Charles  had 
reached  Bayonne  in  the  month  of  October,  he  halted 
for  so  long  a  time  at  Bordeaux,  at  Lusignan,  and  at 
several  other  places  upon  his  route,  for  the  purpose 
of  enjoying  the  sports  of  the  field,  that  he  did  not  ar- 
rive at  Poitiers  until  the  9th  of  December.  His  re- 
ception in  that  city  exceeded  in  splendour  and  cere- 
monial all  that  he  had  hitherto  experienced.  As  he 
arrived  at  the  gates  he  was  met  by  the  whole  nobility 
of  the  province,  and  was  conducted  into  the  town  by 
five  hundred  cavaliers  superbly  habited,  and  followed 
by  two  thousand  of  the  citizens  dressed  in  velvet  and 
satin,  laced  with  gold  and  silver.  At  Orleans,  which 
he  reached  on  the  20th  of  December,  his  escort  was 
composed  not  only  of  all  the  local  nobility  and  militia, 
but  also  of  a  guard  of  "  ninety-two  young  merchants 
of  the  city,  mounted  upon  fine  horses,  all  attired  in 
overcoats  of  black  velvet,  with  doublets  of  white  satin, 
fastened  by  gold  buttons;  velvet  caps,  covered  with 
precious  stones,  and  edged  with  goldsmith's  work; 
and  boots  of  white  Spanish  leather,  with  golden  spurs. 
One  of  these  caps  was  estimated  at  two  thousand 
crowns ;  nor  was  there  an  individual  among  them  who 


Francis  I  207 

did  not  carry  upon  his  person  the  vakxe  of  more  than 
two  thousand  francs  in  jewellery." 

From  this  description  the  enormous  aggregate  ex- 
penditure consequent  upon  the  reception  of  the  Em- 
peror in  France  may  be  inferred.  At  that  period  it 
was  calculated  at  two  millions  of  livres ;  which,  when 
the  relative  value  of  money  in  those  days  and  our  own 
is  remembered,  presents  an  amount  amply  sufficient 
to  have  supplied  the  French  army  throughout  an  en- 
tire campaign.  In  every  city  upon  his  passage  the 
doors  of  the  prisons  were  opened  in  his  presence,  and 
the  prisoners  liberated  in  his  name,  without  any  re- 
gard to  the  nature  of  their  offences ;  and  no  opportu- 
nity was  permitted  to  escape  which  could  afiford  the 
means  of  convincing  Charles  that  his  visit  was  intended 
to  make  one  wide  hoHday  throughout  the  country. 

At  Chatellerault  a  magnificent  banquet  awaited  him ; 
and  the  two  sovereigns,  after  an  interview  in  which 
they  vied  with  each  other  in  expressions  of  affection 
and  regard,  repaired  to  the  stately  hall  where  it  had 
been  served  up,  followed  by  the  Princes  of  the  blood 
and  the  Cardinals.  On  reaching  the  table,  Francis  in- 
sisted that  the  Emperor  should  occupy  the  upper  seat, 
and  after  he  had  with  extreme  difficulty  induced  him 
to  do  so,  he  still  further  testified  his  respect  for  his 
imperial  guest  by  causing  a  large  space  to  intervene 
between  them. 

But  still,  despite  the  flattering  nature  of  his  recep- 
tion, Charles  V.  was  ill  at  ease.  He  was  aware  that 
he  had  little  deserved  such  a  display  of  confidence  and 
hospitality  at  the  hands  of  the  French  King,  and  ac- 
customed to  practise  deceit  in  his  own  person,  he  was 


2o8  Reign  of 

unable,  with  all  his  efforts,  entirely  to  conceal  the  alarm 
which  he  occasionally  felt.  This  apprehension  was, 
moreover,  during  his  sojourn  in  France,  heightened 
by  several  circumstances,  each,  perhaps,  trivial  in  it- 
self, but  so  ill-timed  as  to  arouse  his  suspicions  that 
they  were  not  altogether  accidental.  On  one  occasion 
the  Due  d'Orleans,  who,  as  we  have  already  stated, 
was  of  a  gay  and  thoughtless  disposition,  and  who  was 
moreover  extraordinarily  active,  sprang  upon  the  crup- 
per of  the  horse  which  the  Emperor  had  just  mounted, 
and  flinging  his  arms  about  his  waist,  exclaimed  gaily : 
"  Your  imperial  Majesty  is  my  prisoner."  Although 
he  recovered  his  self-possession  in  an  instant,  it  was 
remarked  by  those  near  him  that  Charles  turned  pale, 
and  that  it  was  only  by  a  powerful  effort  he  was  en- 
abled to  reply  to  the  jest  of  the  young  Prince. 

A  short  time  subsequently,  as  the  Chancellor  Poyet 
approached  to  pay  his  respects  while  the  Emperor  was 
at  table,  the  skirts  of  his  robes  becames  entangled 
among  the  wood  which  had  been  piled  in  a  corner  of 
the  apartment  for  the  supply  of  the  stove ;  and  as  he 
sought  to  disengage  them,  he  so  disturbed  the  heap, 
that  a  large  log  upon  the  summit  lost  its  balance,  and 
fell  upon  the  head  of  Charles,  who  remained  stunned 
for  several  minutes ;  and  although  he  partially  recov- 
ered from  the  blow,  and  affected  to  make  light  of  the 
accident  to  the  discomfited  minister,  he  was  never- 
theless compelled  to  be  bled  before  he  could  overcome 
its  effects. 

At  Amboise,  which  he  subsequently  visited,  he  was 
destined  to  encounter  two  other  perils,  as  easily  ex- 
plained, but  equally  startling  at  the  moment.    On  one 


Francis  I  209 

occasion  the  tapestried  hangings  of  his  bed  were  fired 
by  an  attendant ;  and  on  the  other  he  was  nearly  suf- 
focated by  the  vapours  engendered  by  a  foreign  per- 
fume, intended  to  fill  his  apartment  with  an  agreeable 
and  refreshing  odour.  When  the  latter  occurrence 
took  place,  the  King,  irritated  by  these  repeated  acci- 
dents, and  anxious  to  convince  his  imperial  guest  that 
they  were  not  premeditated,  caused  the  arrest  of  the 
unlucky  perfumer,  and  commanded  that  he  should  im- 
mediately be  put  to  death ;  a  fate  which  he  would  in- 
evitably have  incurred  had  not  the  Emperor  strenu- 
ously demanded  his  pardon,  declaring  that  he  had  not 
visited  France  to  become  the  cause  or  witness  of  a 
criminal  execution. 

The  imperial  retinue  was  rather  elegant  than  either 
numerous  or  magnificent.  The  great-grandson  of 
Charles  the  Bold  was  accompanied  only  by  a  hundred 
men-at-arms,  chosen  for  their  personal  beauty  and 
dexterity  in  warlike  exercises ;  by  a  body  of  Spanish 
grandees,  whose  ambition  appeared  limited  to  a  desire 
to  excel  in  the  splendour  of  their  costume  the  nobles 
of  the  French  court ;  and  by  four-and-twenty  pages, 
habited  in  costumes  of  orange,  grey,  and  violet  velvet, 
which  were  at  that  period  his  peculiar  colours.  He 
himself  was  clad  in  a  complete  suit  of  polished  armour, 
girt  about  the  waist  by  a  sash  of  cloth  of  gold ;  and 
rode  an  Andalusian  horse  of  extraordinary  strength 
and  symmetry.  His  cap  was  of  black  velvet,  embroid- 
ered with  gold  and  jewels,  and  his  weapons  were  of  the 
same  costly  description. 

From  Chattellerault  the  illustrious  party  proceeded 
to  Amboise,  where  the  alarm  of  the  Emperor  was  fated 
Vol.  III.— 14 


2IO  Reign  of 

to  reach  its  climax.  Assured  as  he  was  of  the  devo- 
tion of  the  Connetable,  he  had  not  sojourned  so  long 
in  France  without  detecting  certain  indications  of  his 
unpopularity  with  the  mass,  not  only  of  the  nobles, 
but  also  of  the  citizens,  which  rendered  him  anxious  to 
pursue  his  journey  to  the  Low  Countries,  so  soon  as 
this  measure  could  be  effected  without  giving  umbrage 
to  his  royal  entertainer.  Meanwhile,  however,  he  dis- 
sembled his  misgivings,  and  entered  into  all  the  amuse- 
ments of  the  court  with  apparent  zest  and  enjoyment. 
On  the  occasion  of  a  ball  which  he  had  opened  with 
the  Queen  his  sister,  and  which  took  place  by  daylight, 
as  was  the  common  custom  of  the  period,  the  royalcs 
and  gaillards,  which  were  the  state  dances,  were  exe- 
cuted with  infinite  grace  and  dignity  by  the  Dauphiness, 
the  Duchesse  d'Etampes,  and  Madame  de  Breze ;  and 
at  their  termination  the  Emperor,  who  had  carefully 
abstained  from  resenting  the  neglect  that  was  evinced 
towards  his  royal  relative,  and  the  supremacy  of  the 
favourite  who  openly  usurped  her  privileges,  ap- 
proached the  haughty  Duchess,  and  expressed  his  ad- 
miration of  the  consummate  elegance  with  which  she 
had  acquitted  herself  of  her  arduous  duties.  They  were 
still  engaged  in  conversation,  when  the  King,  flattered 
by  the  deference  shown  to  his  cherished  mistress,  has- 
tily approached  them,  and  laying  his  hand  upon  the 
arm  of  Charles  V,  said  gaily : 

"  Be  sparing  of  your  compliments,  good  brother ;  for 
permit  me  to  assure  you  that  the  fair  lady  who  is  now 
bending  beneath  their  weight,  was  bold  enough  to  ad- 
vise me  to  make  you  my  prisoner  until  you  had  con- 
sented to  the  revocation  of  the  treaty  of  Madrid." 


Francis  I  211 

A  shadow  gathered  upon  the  brow  of  the  Emperor, 
and  his  features  assumed  a  stern  expression,  as  turn- 
ing from  the  discomfited  favourite  he  said  coldly,  "  If 
the  advice  seem  good,  your  Majesty  will  do  well  to 
follow  it." 

This  reply  for  a  moment  silenced  the  whole  group ; 
but  the  King  soon  rallied,  and  the  amusements  re- 
sumed their  course. 

The  warning  was,  however,  opportune ;  for  Charles 
was  aware  that  he  could  not  have  a  more  dangerous 
enemy  than  the  fascinating  and  unscrupulous  Duch- 
ess ;  but  he  was  also  conversant  with  her  real  char- 
acter; and,  accordingly,  a  few  days  afterwards,  when 
he  was  about  to  seat  himself  at  table,  and  that  Madame 
d'Etampes,  who  assumed  to  herself  the  office  which 
should  by  the  rules  of  etiquette  have  devolved  upon  a 
royal  Princess,  presented  a  napkin,  he  adroitly  drew 
a  magnificent  brilliant  from  his  finger,  and  suffered  it 
to  fall  to  the  ground. 

The  Duchess  immediately  stooped,  picked  up  the 
jewel,  and  with  a  low  curtsey  presented  it  on  her  open 
palm  to  its  imperial  owner. 

"  Nay,  Madame,"  said  Charles,  with  an  obeisance 
as  profound  as  her  own,  "  the  bauble  looks  so  much 
more  attractive  in  your  hands  than  in  mine  that  I  dare 
not  reclaim  it." 

"  Your  Imperial  Majesty  surely  jests,"  was  the  reply 
of  the  favourite,  as  she  still  tendered  the  ring;  "  I  am 
unworthy  of  so  precious  a  gift." 

"  Of  what  are  you  not  worthy,  Madame  ? "  said 
Charles  in  an  accent  of  gallantry,  as  he  possessed  him- 
self of  her  hand,  and  passed  the  gem  over  one  of  her 


212  Reign  of 

slender  fingers ;  "  you,  who  have  won  the  heart  of  one 
monarch,  need  feel  no  compunction  in  wearing  the 
jewel  of  another." 

It  is  needless  to  explain  that  the  offering  was  ac- 
cepted; or  that  from  that  moment  the  avaricious 
favourite  ceased  to  exhibit  any  hostility  towards  the 
politic  donor. 

From  Amboise  the  Emperor  was  conducted  to  Blois, 
and  thence  to  Fontainebleau,  where  the  fetes  recom- 
menced ;  but  the  crowning  triumph  was  his  entry  into 
the  capital,  which  took  place  on  the  ist  of  January, 
1540. 

The  Dauphin  and  the  Due  d'Orleans,  the  Princes  of 
the  blood,  the  French  Cardinals,  the  Parliament,  and 
all  the  officials  of  the  government  met  him  at  the  gates ; 
where  the  two  Princes  took  their  places  upon  his  right 
and  left  hand,  while  the  Connetable  preceded  him  with 
his  sword  of  office  unsheathed,  as  though  he  were 
escorting  his  own  sovereign,  and  so  accompanied  him 
through  the  city.  The  keys  of  the  several  prisons  were 
delivered  to  him,  as  they  had  previous  been  in  the 
provinces;  and  before  he  entered  the  palace  of  the 
Tournelles,  he  declared  the  freedom  of  their  occupants. 
When  he  reached  the  Hotel  de  Ville  he  found  all  the 
sheriffs  assembled  before  the  portal  of  the  building  to 
compliment  him ;  and  at  the  close  of  their  harangue 
they  presented,  as  the  oflFering  of  the  city  of  Paris  to 
its  august  visitor,  a  Hercules  in  silver  the  size  of  life, 
with  the  lion  skin  in  which  he  was  draped  richly  gilt 
and  chased.  Thence  he  proceeded  in  the  same  state  to 
Notre  Dame,  where  a  solemn  Te  Deum  was  chanted ; 
after  which  he  was  conducted  to  the  palace  and  took 


Francis  I  213 

possession  of  the  magnificent  suite  of  apartments  that 
had  been  newly  decorated  for  his  use ;  and  throughout 
the  whole  of  the  eight  days  during  which  he  remained 
the  guest  of  the  French  King,  the  most  splendid  festi- 
vals were  given  in  his  honour. 

On  his  departure,  when  he  had  taken  leave  of  the 
Queen  his  sister,  the  Queen  of  Navarre,  the  Dauphin- 
ess,  and  their  respective  courts,  he  left  the  city  with 
the  same  pomp  as  he  had  entered  it,  accompanied  by 
his  royal  host  and  the  two  Princes,  and  proceeded  to 
Chantilly,  where  he  was  entertained  in  the  most  costly 
manner  by  the  Connetable. 

It  is  asserted  by  some  historians,  that  the  Dauphin, 
the  King  of  Navarre,  and  the  Due  de  Vendome  had 
entered  into  a  conspiracy  to  arrest  him  in  the  chateau 
of  Montmorenci ;  and  that  the  latter  was  only  enabled 
to  dissuade  them  from  their  purpose  by  representing 
the  odium  which  he  should  personally  incur  through- 
out Europe,  were  he  to  permit  such  an  outrage  to  be 
committed  beneath  his  roof.  Be  this  as  it  may,  how- 
ever, it  is  certain  that,  after  having  passed  the  night 
at  Chantilly,  the  Emperor  on  the  following  day  pur- 
sued his  journey  to  St.  Quentin  without  molestation ; 
and  having  taken  leave  of  the  King  in  that  city,  pro- 
ceeded to  Valenciennes,  still  attended  by  the  two 
Princes  and  the  Connetable. 

On  their  arrival  at  Valenciennes,  Montmorenci  re- 
spectfully reminded  the  Emperor  of  his  promise  rela- 
tive to  the  duchy  of  Milan,  and  requested  him  to  ap- 
point a  given  time  for  its  fulfillment;  upon  which 
Charles  with  some  bitterness  replied  that  all  the  cour- 
tesy displayed  towards  him  by  his  royal  brother  had 


214  Reign  of 

been  counterbalanced  by  the  perpetual  annoyance  to 
which  he  had  been  subjected  upon  that  question ;  and 
that  he  was  at  the  moment  so  engrossed  by  the  affairs 
of  Ghent,  that  he  could  not  afford  time  for  the  consid- 
eration of  any  other  and  less  pressing  interest. 

As  the  Connetable,  however,  persisted  in  urging 
him  to  a  decision,  he  at  length  declared  that  he  should 
refer  the  matter  to  his  council,  as  he  did  not  feel  him- 
self justified  in  alienating  so  important  a  portion  of  his 
empire  without  previously  obtaining  the  sanction  of 
his  brother  the  King  of  the  Romans;  but  that  he 
should  no  sooner  have  done  so  than  he  would  be  care- 
ful to  make  such  an  arrangement  as  could  not  fail  to 
prove  agreeable  to  the  French  monarch. 

With  this  equivocal  assurance  Montmorenci  was 
compelled  to  content  himself;  and  having  taken  his 
final  leave  of  the  imperial  dissembler,  he  returned  to 
court  with  the  two  Princes,  The  Emperor  meanwhile 
proceeded  to  Ghent,  where  he  succeeded  in  a  few  days 
in  suppressing  the  revolt,  by  an  exhibition  of  severity 
which  effectually  terrified  the  rebels  into  submission; 
and  this  was  no  sooner  accompHshed  than  the  Bishop 
of  Lavaur  again  demanded  the  promised  investiture  on 
the  part  of  his  sovereign ;  when  Charles,  who  had  se- 
cured his  own  safety,  and  who  had  no  longer  anything 
to  fear  from  the  enmity  of  his  late  lavish  host,  unblush- 
ingly  asserted  that  he  had  given  no  pledge,  and  had 
no  intention  of  making  so  serious  a  sacrifice. 

This  shameless  tergiversation  of  the  Emperor  pro- 
duced the  most  baneful  effects  upon  the  moral  nature 
of  Francis  I.  Hitherto,  amid  all  his  faults,  he  had 
been  unsuspicious  of  those  about  him,  and  frank  and 


Francis  I  215 

open-hearted  to  all  in  whom  he  believed  that  he  could 
confide ;  but  the  deceit  practised  by  Charles  was  so 
monstrous,  and  his  ingratitude  so  glaring,  that  he  lost 
confidence  even  in  his  best  and  truest  friends ;  and 
eagerly  listened  to  all  the  whispers  which  were  circu- 
lated against  those  in  whom  he  had  hitherto  reposed 
the  greatest  trust. 

The  first  victim  of  this  morbid  feeling  was  the  Mare- 
chal  de  Brion  Chabot,  the  playmate  of  his  boyhood, 
the  companion  of  his  youth,  and,  moreover,  the  near 
relative  of  Madame  d'Etampes,  who,  incensed  by  the 
coldness  of  Montmorenci,  exerted  all  her  influence  to 
undermine  his  interests  with  the  King,  and  to  second 
those  of  her  cousin.  For  a  considerable  time  Francis 
had  confided  the  direction  of  public  affairs  to  the  Con- 
netable,  whose  power  had  become  so  notorious,  that, 
with  the  exception  of  the  monarch  himself,  and  the 
Cardinal  de  Lorraine,  all  who  were  in  correspondence 
with  him  addressed  him  by  the  title  of  Monseigncnr. 
Between  the  Cardinal  and  Montmorenci  an  aversion 
had  long  existed  which  was  no  secret  to  the  court ; 
and  it  was,  consequently,  without  any  suspicion  of  their 
new  alliance,  that  they  reconciled  their  differences  in 
order  to  meet  a  common  danger,  when  they  discovered 
the  energy  displayed  by  Madame  d'Etampes  in  the 
cause  of  Chabot. 

In  the  life  of  a  public  man  it  is  always  easy  to  dis- 
cover some  foundation  for  blame.  Human  nature  is 
ever  fallible;  and  where  great  power  has  been  en- 
trusted to  an  individual,  it  is  rare  indeed  to  find  that 
it  has  never  been  abused.  Nevertheless,  Chabot  felt 
so  convinced  of  his  own  general  uprightness,  that  when 


2i6  Reign  of 

he  became  aware  that  through  the  machinations  of 
some  unexpected  enemy  he  was  accused  of  having  mal- 
administered  the  affairs  of  the  King  in  Piedmont,  he 
merely  smiled  at  what  he  considered  as  an  abortive 
attempt  to  injure  him. 

Such,  however,  it  was  not  destined  to  prove ;  for  he 
had  not  only  excited  the  indignation  of  Montmorenci 
by  his  ostentatious  display  of  the  wealth  and  power 
for  which  he  was  indebted  to  the  partiality  of  the  mon- 
arch, but  he  had  also  aroused  the  jealousy  of  Francis 
himself  by  the  extreme  interest  which  Madame 
d'Etampes  undisguisedly  evinced  in  his  advancement, 
and  wounded  his  vanity  by  presuming  upon  a  famil- 
ilarity  which  had  commenced  in  their  boyhood,  and 
which  no  after  events  had  diminished  in  the  manner 
of  the  presumptuous  favourite. 

The  train  thus  laid,  it  was  easy  for  the  King  to  dis- 
cover an  opportunity  of  offence;  and,  accordingly, 
when  upon  some  trivial  occasion,  Chabot  ventured  as 
usual  to  dissent  from  his  opinion,  he  turned  sternly 
toward  the  astonished  Marechal,  declaring  that  he 
could  no  longer  tolerate  his  insolence ;  and  threatened 
that,  should  he  persist  in  so  unbecoming  a  course  as 
that  which  he  had  thus  arrogantly  adopted,  he  would 
put  him  upon  his  trial. 

Indignant  at  this  menace,  Chabot,  intead  of  quailing 
before  the  displeasure  of  his  royal  master,  which  the 
latter  had  anticipated  that  he  would  do,  answered  in  as 
high  a  tone,  that  his  Majesty  was  quite  at  liberty  to 
arrest  him  upon  the  instant,  should  such  be  his  pleas- 
ure, as  he  felt  so  secure  that  neither  his  life  nor  his 
honour  could  be  touched,  that  he  should  feel  no  un- 
easiness regarding  the  result  of  the  investigation. 


Francis  I  217 

This  boldness,  which  appeared  to  Francis  to  be  in- 
tended as  an  open  defiance  of  the  authority  of  which 
he  was  so  jealous,  at  once  decided  the  fate  of  the  im- 
prudent Chabot ;  who  with  his  usual  impetuosity,  had 
not  paused  to  remember  that  the  friendship  of  a  sov- 
ereign cannot  be  enjoyed  upon  equal  terms ;  and  that 
it  must  always  be  received  as  a  boon,  rather  than 
claimed  as  a  right,  whatever  may  have  been  the  obliga- 
tions incurred  by  that  sovereign  towards  his  subject. 

It  is,  however,  evident  from  the  result,  that  the  old 
affection  of  Francis  for  the  Marechal  was  still  too 
powerful  to  permit  him  to  contemplate  any  ultimate 
injury  to  his  favourite ;  and  that  all  he  sought  was  to 
humble  his  vanity,  and  to  diminish  his  pretensions; 
but  he,  nevertheless,  gave  an  order  to  the  Chancellor 
Poyet  to  appoint  commissaries  from  the  several  Parlia- 
ments of  France,  and  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  trial. 
Chabot  was  arrested,  imprisoned  in  the  castle  of  Melun, 
and  several  times  interrogated  by  the  Chancellor  him- 
self, who  presided  over  the  proceedings,  contrary  to 
all  precedent,  as  his  jurisdiction  did  not  extend  to  the 
criminal  courts.  But  Poyet,  who  was  at  this  period 
the  creature  of  the  King,  as  blindly  and  unscrupulously 
as  he  had  formerly  been  that  of  Louise  de  Savoie, 
boldly  set  all  legal  conventionalities  at  defiance;  and 
pursued  his  undertaking  with  such  overweening  zeal, 
that  he  ere  long  announced  to  Francis  that  he  had  con- 
victed the  Marechal  of  no  less  than  five-and-twenty 
crimes,  any  one  of  which  merited  the  pain  of  death. 

Such  had  not,  however,  been  the  opinion  of  the  com- 
missaries ;  who,  upon  acquainting  themselves  with  the 
extreme  puerility  of  the  several  accusations,  declared 


2i8  Reign  of 

that  they  saw  nothing  in  the  conduct  of  the  prisoner 
which  could  subject  him  to  any  penalty  beyond  that 
of  a  brief  imprisonment;  but,  believing  that  Francis 
wished  to  rid  himself  of  an  importunate  courtier  of 
whom  he  had  become  weary,  Poyet  no  sooner  found 
that  the  other  members  of  the  court  disregarded  alike 
his  arguments  and  his  expostulations,  than  he  pro- 
ceeded to  threats,  which  proved  more  efficacious ;  and 
thus  sentence  of  death  was  ultimately  signed  against 
the  unfortunate  noble  by  his  venal  and  profligate 
judges. 

The  result  was,  however,  no  sooner  communicated 
to  the  King,  than  he  expressed  his  indignation  at  the 
absurdity  of  which  both  the  Chancellor  and  his  sub- 
ordinates had  been  guilty,  in  thus  condemning  a  man 
to  die  for  errors  not  one  of  which  amounted  to  a  crime ; 
and  having  so  done,  he  desired  that  the  Marechal 
might  immediately  be  summoned  to  his  presence.  As 
Chabot  entered  the  apartment,  already  aware  of  the 
decision  of  the  court,  he  met  the  eye  of  the  King  re- 
spectfully but  firmly,  and  having  made  a  deep  obeis- 
ance, stood  silently  before  him  awaiting  the  event. 

"  You  see.  Sir,"  commenced  Francis  sternly,  "  to 
what  a  pass  your  arrogance  has  brought  you;  and 
that  it  ill  became  you  to  challenge  your  sovereign  to 
so  dangerous  a  proof  as  he  has  now  given  you  of  his 
power." 

"  I  admit  my  error.  Sire,"  said  the  Marechal,  "  but  at 
least  your  judges  have  been  unable  to  convict  me  of 
any  want  of  zeal  or  fidelity  in  your  service." 

"  Do  you  then  still  consider  you»-self  irreproach- 
able ?  "  asked  the  monarch  hastily. 


Francis  I  219 

"  By  no  means,  Sire,"  was  the  calm  and  pointed  re- 
ply ;  "I  have  learnt  in  my  prison  that  before  God  and 
his  sovereign  no  man  can  call  himself  innocent." 

"  It  is  well.  Sir,  that  you  have  been  awakened  to  a 
sense  of  your  indiscretion,"  said  the  King,  but  less 
sternly  than  before ;  "  we  will,  however,  spare  your  Hfe. 
Whatever  may  have  been  your  faults,  you  have  ere 
now  done  us  good  service  which  we  care  not  to  forget. 
Let  the  remembrance  of  the  latter  cheer  your  exile,  as 
that  of  the  former  cannot  fail  to  sadden  it." 

The  Marechal  attempted  no  remonstrance;  and  a 
sentence  of  perpetual  banishment  was  recorded  against 
him,  to  which  was  superadded  a  fine  of  a  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  livres ;  but,  believing  that  he  had  now 
sufficiently  humbled  the  vanity  of  his  old  and  faithful 
servant,  whose  presumption  had  been  fostered  by  the 
extreme  familiarity  to  which  he  had  been  admitted  by 
himself;  wearied  by  the  remonstrances  of  Madame 
d'Etampes ;  and  aroused  once  more  to  his  old  jealousy 
of  the  Connetable  by  her  representations,  Francis  had 
no  sooner  thus  cruelly  suffered  his  victim  to  experience 
all  the  bitterness  of  anticipated  ruin  and  disgrace,  than 
he  once  more  set  aside  the  decree  of  the  court,  and 
restored  him  unrestrictedly  to  his  former  property  and 
honours. 

The  vanity  of  the  sovereign  had,  however,  miscal- 
culated the  character  of  the  subject.  Chabot  was  a 
man  of  quick  and  sensitive  feelings,  and  he  had  been 
wounded  to  the  very  core.  The  pardon  which  had  been 
granted  to  him  as  a  boon,  failed  to  satisfy  his  self-re- 
spect ;  and  he  accordingly  declined  to  resume  his  of- 
ficial functions  until  he  had  undergone  a  second  trial 


220  Reign  of 

before  the  regular  tribunal;  a  favour  which  was  at 
length  reluctantly  accorded  to  him.  The  result  of  this 
second  investigation  was  an  unqualified  acquittal ;  and 
it  was  no  sooner  promulgated  than  he  returned  to 
court,  where  he  was  welcomed  by  no  one  more  warmly 
than  by  Marguerite  of  Navarre ;  who,  aware  that 
Montmorenci  had  been  the  original  instigator  of  his 
disgrace,  and  remembering  only  too  keenly  the  insult 
which  he  had  offered  to  herself  on  the  subject  of  her 
religious  tenets,  hastened  to  assure  him  of  her  lively 
satisfaction  at  the  triumph  which  he  had  obtained  over 
his  enemies;  a  triumph  in  which  she  was  ere  long 
destined  to  share. 

To  the  Marechal  it  was,  however,  of  small  avail ;  for 
the  mortification  to  which  he  had  been  exposed,  and 
the  anxiety  that  he  had  suffered  during  his  imprison- 
ment, had  acted  so  injuriously  upon  his  health  that 
he  never  recovered  from  their  effects ;  and  in  little  more 
than  a  year  Francis  was  deprived  by  death  of  one  of 
the  most  attached  and  devoted  of  his  subjects. 

The  next  arrest  which  took  place  was  that  of  his 
persecutor  Poyet;  who,  although  his  disgrace  was 
well  merited,  nevertheless  owed  it  less  to  his  crimes 
than  to  the  vengeance  of  Madame  d'Etampes,  and  the 
wounded  dignity  of  Marguerite  de  Navarre. 

Jean  de  Bary  la  Renaudie,  a  gentleman  of  Perigord, 
was  engaged  in  a  lawsuit  against  M.  du  Tillet,  the 
registrar-civil  of  the  Parliament  of  Paris,  which  had 
already  extended  over  several  years ;  and  being  anx- 
ious to  see  it  terminated,  he  had  applied  for  letters  of 
evocation  which  the  Chancellor  upon  sundry  pretexts 
refused  to  sign,  although  he  had  been  expressly  urged 


Francis  I  221 

to  do  so  by  the  favourite ;  who  at  length,  irritated  by 
his  opposition,  obtained  an  order  from  the  King  by 
which  he  was  compelled  to  immediate  obedience.  It 
chanced  that  when  this  order  arrived  he  was  closeted 
with  the  Queen  of  Navarre,  who  was  soliciting  his  in- 
terest in  favour  of  an  individual  of  her  family  who  had 
recently  been  convicted  of  eloping  with  an  heiress ; 
and  he  had  no  sooner  run  his  eye  over  the  missive  of 
the  King,  than  taking  up  the  letters  of  La  Renaudie, 
he  held  them  towards  his  royal  petitioner,  exclaiming 
bitterly : — 

"  There,  Madame,  is  a  proof  of  the  purposes  to  which 
the  ladies  of  the  court  apply  their  influence.  Not  sat- 
isfied with  confining  themselves  to  their  legitimate 
sphere  of  action,  they  undertake  even  to  violate  the 
laws,  and  to  give  lessons  to  the  most  experienced 
magistrates." 

The  sister  of  the  King,  who  apprehended  that  this 
taunt,  which  there  can  be  little  doubt  simply  applied 
to  Madame  d'Etampes,  was  intended  as  an  insult  to 
herself,  immediately  rose,  refusing  to  resume  with  the 
minister  the  subject  upon  which  she  had  been  induced 
to  visit  him ;  and  she  had  no  sooner  reached  the  palace 
than  she  hastened  to  communicate  to  the  favourite  the 
insolence  of  the  fated  Poyet. 

On  the  2d  of  August  the  French  Chancellor  was  a 
prisoner  in  the  Bastille,  where  he  remained  until  the 
conclusion  of  his  trial  on  the  23d  of  April,  1545,  which 
had  been  constantly  prolonged  by  the  charges  that 
poured  in  against  him  from  all  directions.  Found 
guilty  of  malversation,  peculation,  and  legal  corrup- 
tion, he  was  sentenced  "  to  be  deprived  of  the  dignity 


222  Reign  of 

of  Chancellor,  declared  incapable  of  holding  office 
under  the  crown,  and  condemned  to  a  fine  of  a  hun- 
dred thousand  livres,  as  well  as  five  years'  imprison- 
ment in  whatsoever  fortress  the  King  might  see  fit  to 
select."  He  was  then  removed  to  the  town  of  Bourges, 
where  he  was  detained  until  he  had  surrendered  the 
whole  of  his  property  in  payment  of  the  fine ;  and  he 
ultimately  died  in  Paris  in  a  state  of  the  most  squalid 
poverty,  without  a  home  or  a  friend. 

Despite  the  unworthy  requital  which  had  been  made 
by  Charles  V.  to  the  impolitic  hospitality  of  the  French 
King,  he  was  anxious  to  avoid  an  open  rupture  be- 
tween the  two  countries ;  and  after  his  return  to  Spain 
he  accordingly  hastened  to  propose  to  Francis  a  double 
alliance  between  their  families  which  might  ensure 
their  lasting  friendship,  and  by  such  means  invest 
them  with  a  supremacy  over  the  whole  of  Europe. 
For  this  purpose  he  declared  his  readiness  to  accept 
for  his  son  Dom  Philippe,  the  hand  of  Jeanne  d'Albret, 
the  daughter  of  Henry  of  Navarre  and  Marguerite,  the 
King's  sister;  pledging  himself  to  permit  Francis  to 
redeem  the  principalities  of  Beam  and  Lower  Navarre, 
both  of  which  were  situate  within  the  French  territo- 
ries, for  two  millions  of  livres;  and  to  give  his  own 
daughter,  the  Princess  of  Spain,  in  marriage  to  Charles, 
Due  d'Orleans,  with  either  the  duchy  of  Milan,  or  the 
Low  Countries  and  the  counties  of  Burgundy  and 
Charolois,  as  her  dower,  on  condition  that  the  King 
should  increase  the  appanage  of  his  son. 

To  this  proposition  Francis,  however,  refused  to  ac- 
cede, although  a  more  brilliant  alliance  could  not  have 
presented  itself  for  the  young  Prince.    He  declared  in 


Francis  I  223 

reply,  that  he  could  not  consent  to  receive  the  duchy 
of  Milan  as  the  dowry  of  the  Princess  of  Spain,  inas- 
much as  such  a  concession  would  tend  to  invalidate  his 
just  claims  to  that  sovereignty,  to  which  he  considered 
that  he  had  an  undisputed  right,  either  in  his  own 
person  or  in  that  of  one  of  his  sons;  while  he  was 
equally  indisposed  to  accept  the  Low  Countries  and 
the  provinces  specified  on  the  condition  assigned,  that 
should  the  Prince  die  before  his  wife  these  territories 
were  to  revert  to  the  Emperor  himself ;  while  he  more- 
over declined  to  give  any  definite  reply  as  to  the  mar- 
riage of  Jeanne  d'Albret  with  Dom  Philippe. 

Charles  V,  who  had  anticipated  a  very  different  re- 
sult, was  extremely  chagrined  by  this  unexpected  ob- 
stacle. He  declared  that  while  Francis  was  exacting 
in  his  own  demands,  he  avoided  all  personal  sacrifice ; 
but  he,  nevertheless,  abstained  from  any  demonstration 
of  hostility,  believing  that  upon  mature  deliberation 
the  French  King  would  accede  to  his  proposals. 

The  policy  of  Francis  upon  this  occasion  meanwhile 
caused  severe  disappointment  to  the  King  and  Queen 
of  Navarre,  who  saw  their  wildest  dreams  of  ambition 
realized  in  the  alliance  proposed  for  their  daughter ; 
but  the  idea  of  a  union  between  this  Princess  and  the 
son  of  the  German  Emperor  alarmed  alike  the  King 
and  his  ministers ;  who  foresaw,  should  it  be  effected, 
the  almost  certain  usurpation  of  the  kingdom  of  Na- 
varre by  the  Spaniards,  as  well  as  that  of  a  considerable 
portion  of  territory  at  the  base  of  the  Pyrenees ;  and, 
consequently,  not  all  the  importunities  of  his  much- 
loved  sister  could  induce  Francis  to  yield.  Either,  as 
he  asserted,  both  the  marriages  must  take  place,  or 


224  Reign  of 

neither ;  adding,  moreover,  that  nothing  should  induce 
him  to  dismember  his  kingdom  in  order  to  increase  the 
territories  of  Charles  V. 

The  negotiation  was,  however,  continued,  but  Hst- 
lessly  and  indifferently  until  the  arrival  in  France  of  the 
Due  de  Cleves  and  Juliers,*  who  having  been  disap- 
pointed in  his  hope  of  obtaining  the  duchy  of  Gueldres 
(to  which  both  Antoine  de  Lorraine  and  himself  laid 
claim  as  the  near  relatives  of  the  deceased  Duke  Will- 
iam), at  the  hands  of  Charles  V,  who  was  anxious  to 
retain  its  sovereignty  and  to  merge  it  in  that  of  the 
Low  Countries;  at  once  proceeded  to  the  court  of 
Francis  to  solicit  his  assistance  and  protection.  It  hap- 
pened, unfortunately  for  the  interests  of  the  young 
Princess,  that  a  short  time  previously  the  Cardinal  de 
Grammont,  Archbishop  of  Bordeaux  and  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  Guienne,  had  succeeded  in  intercepting  a 
secret  correspondence  between  the  Emperor  and  the 
King  of  Navarre  on  the  subject  of  the  proposed  mar- 
riage of  their  children;  and  this  letter  having  been 
forwarded  to  the  King,  he  became  so  incensed  by  this 
daring  opposition  to  his  will,  that  he  forthwith  offered 
to  the  Duke  of  Cleves,  as  an  earnest  of  his  friendship, 
the  hand  of  his  niece ;  an  offer  which  was  gratefully 
accepted.    In  vain  did  Henri  de  Navarre  remonstrate. 


•  Guillaume  de  la  Mark  succeeded  his  father,  Jean  III.,  in  the  duchies 
of  Cleves,  Berg,  and  Juliers.  On  the  27th  of  January,  1538,  he  was  also 
summoned  by  the  States  of  Gueldres  and  Zutphen,  then  assembled  at 
Nimeguen,  to  hiherit  the  sovereignty  of  their  aged  Duke,  Charles  d'Eg- 
mont,  who  was  at  that  period  seventy-one  years  of  age,  and  childless; 
and  who  died  on  the  30th  of  June  following.  An  old  and  close  friendship 
united  the  two  families;  and  the  Gueldrians  refused  to  recognise  a  treaty 
into  which  their  Duke  had  been  compelled  to  enter,  and  by  virtue  of 
which  his  duchy  passed,  upon  his  death,  into  the  house  of  Austria. 


Francis  I  225 

and  his  sister  weep ;  Francis  remained  immovable,  de- 
claring that  he  would  not  retract  a  pledge  voluntarily 
given ;  and  despite  the  opposition  of  both  parents,  he 
accordingly  made  known  to  the  Duke  that  his  mar- 
riage would  be  solemnized  at  Chatellerault  on  the  15th 
of  July. 

On  that  day  the  ceremony  accordingly  took  place, 
with  a  magnificence  which  excited  much  murmuring 
among  the  people,  upon  whom  a  new  tax  was  levied  in 
order  to  liquidate  the  outlay  consequent  upon  this  de- 
mand on  the  treasury;  and  the  only  consolation  ex- 
perienced by  the  disappointed  mother  was  afforded  by 
the  fact,  that  as  the  poor  child,  who  had  only  just  at- 
tained her  eleventh  year,  was  so  overloaded  with  jewels, 
and  gold  and  silver  damask,  that  she  had  not  strength 
to  walk  under  their  weight,  the  King  commanded 
Montmorenci  to  take  her  in  his  arms,  and  carry  her 
to  the  altar ;  an  order  which  startled  the  whole  court, 
such  an  office  being  derogatory  to  the  exalted  rank  of 
the  Connetable,  and  obviously  intended  as  an  affront. 

Montmorenci,  however,  obeyed  in  silence;  but  as 
he  lifted  the  little  Princess,  who  was  clinging  to  the 
side  of  her  mother,  his  cheek  flushed  upon  hearing 
Marguerite  remark  scornfully  to  Madame  d'Etampes : 
"  Is  it  not  amusing?  Here  is  the  man  who  would  fain 
have  ruined  me  in  the  good  graces  of  my  royal  brother, 
now  playing  the  part  of  lacquey  to  my  daughter."  A 
taunt  which  had  no  sooner  reached  his  ear,  than  he  in 
turn  exclaimed  to  one  of  his  friends :  "  My  season  of 
favour  is  over,  and  I  bid  it  farewell  forever." 

The  event  proved  the  justice  of  his  previsions,  for 
at  the  close  of  the  banquet  it  was  announced  to  him 
Vol..  III.— 15 


226  Reign  of 

that  the  King  authorized  his  retirement  to  one  of  his 
estates,  and  would  dispense  with  all  leave-taking. 

The  next  morning  the  once-powerful  Connetable 
was  on  his  way  to  his  chateau  at  Chantilly. 

The  positive  cause  of  his  disgrace  was  never  pub- 
licly ascertained ;  many  ascribed  it  to  the  evil  counsels 
by  which  Francis  was  induced  to  allow  the  Emperor  a 
free  passage  through  his  kingdom,  an  act  of  impolicy 
which  he  had  since  repented ;  and  others,  to  the  jeal- 
ousy felt  by  the  King  at  the  excessive  attachment  ex- 
isting between  him  and  the  Dauphin;  but  its  imdoubted 
motive  was  revealed  by  the  fact,  that  while  that  Prince 
was  on  one  occasion  repeating  his  entreaties  for  the  re- 
call of  his  first  tutor  in  arms,  the  King  exclaimed  bit- 
terly :  "  No  more  of  this.  Sir.  Never  again  mention 
to  me  the  name  of  that  dispenser  of '  Good-morrows  1 '  " 

The  Duchesse  d'Etampes  was  revenged.  No  one 
thenceforward  dared  to  plead  the  cause  of  the  outraged 
Connetable;  and  his  enforced  exile  terminated  only 
with  the  death  of  the  ungenerous  monarch  who  had  so 
ill  requited  his  brilliant  services. 

The  departure  of  Montmorenci  was  no  impediment 
to  the  gaiety  of  the  court ;  which  on  the  occasion  of  the 
marriage  of  Mademoiselle  de  Navarre,  drank  deep  of 
every  species  of  dissipation.  Superb  banquets  and 
magnificent  tournaments  daily  took  place ;  and  at  the 
latter  a  number  of  knights-errant  presented  themselves 
in  the  lists,  who  rigorously  observed  all  the  traditional 
ceremonies  of  the  Knights  of  the  Round  Table.  The 
most  costly  gifts  were  showered  upon  the  bride ;  and 
at  the  conclusion  of  the  festivities,  the  Due  de  Cleves 
took  his  leave  of  the  royal  circle,  and  returned  to  Aix- 
la-Chapelle,  whither  his  young  wife  was  to  follow  him 


Francis  I  227 

when  she  should  have  attained  her  fourteenth  year. 
This  arrangement,  however,  was  never  completed;  as 
Marguerite  and  her  husband,  against  whose  consent 
the  alliance  had  taken  place,  caused  it  to  be  annulled 
a  short  time  afterwards ;  nor  was  the  Princess  finally 
married  until  the  year  1548,  when  she  became  the  wife 
of  Antoine  de  Bourbon,  Due  de  Vendome,  who  suc- 
ceeded his  father-in-law  as  King  of  Navarre. 

From  Chatellerault  Francis  removed  with  his  court 
to  the  capital,  where  an  incident  occurred  which  oc- 
casioned considerable  amusement  to  the  idle  and  licen- 
tious circle.  The  monarch,  soon  wearied  by  the 
gloomy  palace  of  the  Tournelles,  proceeded  with  a  few 
chosen  courtiers  to  the  chateau  of  Madrid ;  an  arrange- 
ment which  afiforded  great  satisfaction  to  the  favourite, 
who,  whatever  contempt  she  afifected  to  feel  for  the 
forsaken  Queen,  evinced  on  all  occasions  the  utmost 
anxiety  to  escape  from  her  vicinity.  The  royal  party 
had  no  sooner  arrived  at  the  villa,  than  the  King  com- 
manded a  grand  hunt  in  the  Bois  de  Boulogne ;  from 
which,  however,  the  Duchess,  being  slightly  indis- 
posed, absented  herself.  It  is  true  that  the  gallant  and 
handsome  Christian  de  Nangay,  the  captain  of  the 
body-guard,  had  been  prevented  by  his  duties  from 
joining  in  the  sport ;  and  it  was  well  known  that 
Madame  d'Etampes  had  long  ceased  to  conceal  her 
passion  for  this  noble  young  soldier.  Suffice  it,  that 
while  she  sat  musing  in  her  own  apartment,  De  Nan- 
9ay,  leaning  from  the  balcony  of  the  outer  gallery, 
was  watching  the  shades  of  evening  as  they  thickened, 
in  as  deep  a  reverie  as  her  own. 

At  length  the  great  clock  of  the  chateau  struck 
seven ;    and   De  Nangay,   starting  from   his  waking 


228  Reign  of 

dream,  adjusted  his  helmet  and  coat-of-mail,  and  has- 
tened to  his  post  to  arrange  his  pikemen ;  after  which 
he  returned  to  the  gallery,  whence  he  proceeded  to  the 
private  apartments ;  and  having  traversed  the  arched 
corridor  by  which  they  were  approached,  suddenly 
stopped  before  a  hanging  curtain  of  blue  silk,  richly 
fringed  with  gold,  and  embroidered  all  over  with  the 
royal  salamander  in  the  same  costly  bullion.  A  deep 
flush  rose  to  his  cheek,  and  for  a  moment  his  eyes  fell 
before  the  significant  device ;  but  he  was  young,  bold, 
and  fully  conscious  of  his  personal  advantages.  It  was 
not,  consequently,  from  any  dread  of  personal  danger 
that  he  paused ;  but  only  one  short  year  had  elapsed 
since  he  had  been  a  personal  attendant  of  the  sovereign, 
who,  in  requital  of  his  services,  had  permitted  him  to 
exchange  the  plumed  cap  and  embroidered  pour- 
point  of  the  page  for  the  helm  and  halberd  of  the  sol- 
dier ;  and  he  was  conscious  that,  by  his  meditated  in- 
trusion, he  was  about  to  violate  the  respect  which  he 
owed  to  his  royal  master. 

Behind  that  mystic  curtain  was  an  apartment  into 
which  no  one  had  a  right  to  penetrate,  save  the  King 
himself — the  apartment  of  the  Duchesse  d'Etampes; 
who,  dear  as  she  might  be  to  the  monarch,  the  enthu- 
siastic youth  believed  could  be  loved  by  no  one  so  de- 
votedly as  by  himself.  As  we  have  said,  he  paused  for 
a  moment ;  but  as  he  apprehended  no  severity  on  the 
part  of  the  fair  favourite  herself,  he  soon  forgot  all 
save  his  mad  and  ungovernable  passion.  With  a 
desperate  clutch  he  drew  back  the  folds  of  the  frail  bar- 
rier, and  cautiously  entered  the  forbidden  chamber. 

The  room  was  of  small  dimensions,  oval-shaped, 
and  imperfectly  lighted  by  the  faint  flame  which  was 


Francis  I  229 

confined  within  a  lamp  of  ground  glass,  placed  upon  a 
precious  secretaire  of  ebony,  inlaid  with  sandal-wood, 
ivory,  and  coral;  rich  hangings  of  purple  damask 
veiled  the  walls,  and  were  looped  back  at  intervals  by 
hands  wrought  in  polished  steel;  a  noble  Venetian 
mirror  faced  the  portal;  and  a  gorgeous  sofa,  upon 
which  were  scattered  cushions  of  gold-coloured  satin, 
tasselled  with  pearls,  stood  immediately  beneath  it. 
Two  of  the  velvet-covered  coffers,  which  were  at  that 
period  the  ungraceful  and  inconvenient  substitutes  for 
chairs,  were  placed  near  it ;  while  the  only  window  by 
which  the  daylight  was  admitted  into  the  apartment 
was  flung  open,  its  draperies  drawn  aside,  and  its  space 
partially  occupied  by  the  slight  figure  of  a  woman, 
whose  head  was  bowed  over  her  bosom,  and  whose 
hands  rested  upon  the  sill. 

The  breath  of  De  Nangay  came  thick  and  fast,  as  he 
stood  with  his  eyes  riveted  upon  the  dimly-traced  out- 
line of  the  solitary  muser ;  he  could  neither  speak,  nor 
move  a  limb;  he  felt  like  one  who  is  deprived  of  all 
power  of  volition.  How  long  this  trance  might  have 
continued,  is  uncertain,  had  not  Madame  d'Etampes 
suddenly  started,  swept  back  her  dishevelled  hair,  and, 
moving  from  the  window,  approached  a  table  on  which 
lay  the  miniature  rattle  destined  to  summon  her  at- 
tendants, when,  as  she  reached  the  centre  of  the  floor, 
the  rays  of  the  lamp,  feeble  though  they  were,  glinted 
over  the  armour  of  the  intruder,  upon  which  she  ut- 
tered a  faint  scream,  and  sank  fainting  on  the  sofa. 

"  It  is  only  I — Christian — most  adored  of  women," 
murmured  De  Nangay,  as  he  hastened  to  reassure  her. 
"  It  is  only  I,  your  worshipper.  Will  you  not  pardon 
me?" 


230  Reign  of 

"  You  mad  boy !  "  gasped  out  the  terrified  favourite ; 
"  do  you  seek  your  own  destruction  ?  " 

"  What  could  I  do,  Anne  ?  "  urged  the  impassioned 
youth.  "  I  knew  that  you  were  here — here,  and 
alone." 

"  But  the  King " 

"  The  King !  "  echoed  De  Nangay  petulantly ;  "  can 
you  not  forget  him  at  such  a  moment  as  this  ?  He  is 
still  in  the  forest.  The  stag  has  afforded  him  right 
royal  sport,  and  he  cannot  return  hither  for  hours." 

"  Nevertheless,  you  have  acted  with  great  impru- 
dence," said  the  Duchess  tenderly,  as  she  wreathed  her 
slender  fingers  in  his  clustering  curls ;  "  you  may  have 
been  suspected — even  seen." 

"  I  thought  only  of  you,  sweet  Anne." 

"  I  dare  not  trust  you.  You  will  involve  both  your- 
self and  me." 

"Spare  your  reproaches,"  said  Christian  impatiently ; 
"  for  I  have  exercised  more  discretion  than  you  seem 
willing  to  believe.  The  King,  I  repeat,  cannot  be  here 
for  two  happy,  blissful  hours," 

"  From  whom  did  you  ascertain  that  fact  ?  " 

"  From  the  Comte  de  Saint-Pol,  who  has  this  mo- 
ment returned  from  the  hunt." 

"  Enough,"  said  the  Duchess  with  a  smile ;  "  the  boy 
is,  I  see,  fast  ripening  into  the  man,  and  must  not  be 
idly  chidden."  Then,  springing  her  small  rattle,  a 
summons  which  was  instantly  answered  by  the  en- 
trance of  one  of  her  women,  she  made  a  significant 
gesture,  and  the  attendant  departed  as  silently  as  she 
had  appeared. 

Scarcely  had  an  half  hour  elapsed  when  a  great  noise 
was  heard  in  the  court-yard.    The  archers  and  pike- 


Francis  I  231 

men  flew  to  their  arms ;  and  the  suivanfc,  who  had 
slumbered  upon  her  watch,  rushed  into  the  apartment 
exclaiming  hurriedly :  "  Madame,  you  have  not  a 
moment  to  lose.     His  Majesty  has  returned." 

In  an  instant  both  the  Duchess  and  De  Nangay 
sprang  to  their  feet ;  the  clatter  of  horses'  hoofs,  and 
the  baying  of  hounds,  became  every  instant  more 
audible.  There  was  no  longer  time  either  for  conceal- 
ment or  for  flight,  and  moreover  the  captain  of  the 
royal  guard  was  absent  from  his  post.  Meanwhile  the 
King  had  sprung  from  his  horse  ;  and  booted,  spurred, 
and  muddy  as  he  was,  had  hurriedly  entered  the  cha- 
teau, and  ascended  by  a  private  staircase  which  led 
immediately  to  the  apartments  of  the  Duchess,  in  order 
to  allay  her  uneasiness  by  assuring  her  of  his  safety. 

Already  the  clanking  of  his  spurs  echoed  sharply 
through  the  arched  gallery.  The  Duchess  had  recog- 
nised his  footstep,  and  the  young  guard  had  resigned 
himself  to  his  fate.  The  silken  curtain  of  the  portal 
was  flung  back,  and  in  another  instant  Francis  ap- 
peared upon  the  threshold  of  the  apartment,  preceded 
by  two  pages  bearing  flambeaux.  On  discovering  De 
Nangay  in  the  saloon  of  Madame  d'Etampes,  the  King 
suddenly  stopped  short,  and  his  eyes  flashed  with  rage ; 
but  he  nevertheless  maintained  sufficient  control  over 
his  feelings  to  suppress  his  indignation.  Christian 
stood,  with  bowed  head,  in  the  centre  of  the  floor,  and 
beside  him  knelt  a  female,  whose  face  was  buried  in  her 
hands,  and  whose  whole  frame  quivered  with  emo- 
tion. 

"  You  here,  Sir !  "  said  Francis  sternly. 

Christian  replied  only  by  a  respectful  bow. 

"  And  apparently  in  good  company,"  pursued  the 


232  Reign  of 

King  bitterly.  "  Who  is  this  woman  ?  Let  her  stand 
up." 

The  recumbent  figure  slowly  rose  from  her  Mag- 
dalen-like attitude. 

"  You  are  indeed  over-bold,  young  Sir,"  thundered 
the  indignant  monarch ;  "  would  no  light-o'-love  serve 
your  turn  save  one  of  the  attendants  of  the  Duchesse 
d'Etampes  ?  and  no  place  of  rendezvous  suffice  except 
her  private  chamber  ?  Hola !  guards !  seize  your  pris- 
oner." 

De  Nangay  respectfully  drew  his  sword  from  its 
scabbard,  and  in  silence  laid  it  at  the  feet  of  his  irritated 
master ;  after  which,  with  a  profound  obeisance,  he  sur- 
rendered himself  to  the  royal  archers  who  awaited  him 
at  the  entrance  of  the  apartment. 

About  a  month  subsequently,  Francis  summoned 
the  delinquent  to  his  presence.  "  M.  de  Nangay,"  he 
said,  "  I  have  been  induced  to  pardon  the  crime  of 
which  you  were  lately  guilty,  at  the  powerful  interces- 
sion of  the  noble  lady  to  whom  you  offered  so  deep 
an  insult  that  she  might  well  have  been  excused  had 
she  rather  solicited  your  lasting  disgrace ;  but  who, 
with  a  generosity  for  which  you  can  never  sufficiently 
prove  your  gratitude,  condescends  to  overlook  the 
outrage  committed  upon  her  dignity,  and  in  consid- 
eration of  your  youth,  freely  forgives  you.  It  is  to 
her,  and  her  alone,  I  repeat,  that  you  owe  your  escape 
from  a  fate  which,  to  a  young  and  proud  spirit  Hke 
yours,  would  have  been  worse  than  death.  Do  not 
suffer  the  lesson  you  have  now  received  to  prove  un- 
profitable. Return  to  your  duty.  Here  is  your  sword, 
sir ;  and  endeavour  to  guard  it  better  in  time  to  come." 

Christian  knelt,  and  having  dutifully  kissed  the  knee 


Francis  I  233 

of  the  sovereign,  once  more  took  possession  of  his 
forfeited  weapon ;  pledging  himself,  upon  the  honour 
of  a  soldier,  that  he  would  never  again  be  guilty  of 
the  enormity  of  pursuing  with  his  addresses  any  of 
the  attendants  of  the  outraged  favourite. 

The  clever  Duchess  was  saved.  She  had,  indeed, 
sacrificed  the  fair  fame  of  one  of  her  women,  buF  she 
had  succeeded  in  securing  her  own  immunity.  And, 
after  all,  what  was  the  value  of  character  to  the  daugh- 
ter of  a  citizen,  or  to  an  inmate  of  the  court  of  Fran- 
cis I? 

During  the  course  of  this  year,  that  maddest  of  all 
mad  geniuses,  Benvenuto  Cellini,  was  introduced  to 
Francis  by  the  Cardinal  de  Ferrara,  where  he  soon 
drew  upon  himself  the  enmity  of  the  Duchesse 
d'Etampes ;  and  although  he  enriched  the  collection 
of  the  King  by  several  of  the  finest  specimens  of  his 
art,  he  was  compelled,  notwithstanding  the  partiality 
evinced  towards  him  by  Francis  himself,  to  request 
permission  to  leave  the  country  a  short  time  after- 
wards, feeling  unequal  to  cope  with  so  dangerous  an 
adversary. 

The  exile  of  Montmorenci  from  the  court  was 
speedily  followed  by  that  of  the  profligate  Cardinal 
de  Lorraine,  who  was  accused  of  having  accepted  an 
annual  revenue  of  six  thousand  crowns  from  the 
Emperor,  on  the  Archbishopric  of  Saragossa;  an 
equivocal  meanness  in  which  he  was  countenanced  by 
several  of  his  colleagues,  but  to  which  the  King  af- 
fected to  attach  a  suspicion  of  treachery  in  his  case, 
in  order  to  escape  from  the  continual  importunities 
rendered  necessary  by  the  enormous  outlay  in  which 
he  indulged. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Changed  Aspect  of  the  French  Court — Favour  of  the  Marechal 
d'Annebaut — The  Emperor  Invests  His  Own  Son  with  the 
Duchy  of  Milan — The  Venetians  Threaten  to  Form  an  Al- 
liance with  Solyman — Charles  V.  and  Francis  Despatch  Am- 
bassadors to  Venice — They  are  Coldly  Received — Murder 
of  Fregosa  and  Rincon — Du  Bellay-Langei  Accuses  the  Im- 
perialists of  the  Crime — The  Assassins  are  put  to  Death  by 
the  States  of  Venice — Francis  Summons  the  Emperor  to 
Make  Reparation — Contemptuous  Reply  of  Charles  V. — 
Francis  Arrests  the  Archbishop  of  Valence — Charles  Enters 
into  a  Truce  with  the  Protestant  Princes — Benda  Taken  by 
the  Turks — Charles  V.  Conducts  an  Expedition  against  the 
Algerines — His  Fleet  is  Dispersed  by  a  Tempest — The  Im- 
perialists Return  to  Spain — Francis  Resolves  to  Declare  War 
against  the  Emperor — The  French  Armies  Open  Their  Cam- 
paign— The  Marechal  de  Gueldres  Attacks  the  Flemish 
Frontiers — Alarm  of  the  Dowager-Queen  of  Hungary — 
Treachery  of  the  Duchesse  d'Etampes — D'Annebaut  Seconds 
Her  Views — Suspicion  of  the  King — The  Due  d'Orleans 
Takes  Luxembourg — D'Annebaut  Supersedes  Langei  in  His 
Command  in  Piedmont — Death  of  Langei — D'Annebaut  is 
Appointed  Admiral  of  France — Exile  of  Montpezat — Grow- 
ing Enmity  of  the  Two  Princes — Female  Policy — The  Court 
of  Catherine  de'  Medici — The  "  Light  Brigade  " — Revolt  of 
La  Rochelle — Francis  Proceeds  Thither — Suppresses  the  In- 
surrection and  Pardons  the  Citizens. 
234 


Francis  I  235 

THE  exile  of  Montmorenci  and  M.  de  Lorraine, 
and  the  death  of  de  Brion-Chabot,  had  mean- 
while changed  the  whole  aspect  of  the  French 
court.  The  Conn6table  had  no  sooner  retired  to 
Chantilly  than  Francis  transferred  to  the  Marechal 
d'Anncbaut,  all  the  confidence  which  he  had  formerly 
bestowed  upon  his  old  favourite ;  but  it  was  not  long 
ere  he  was  destined  to  feel  his  error,  for  the  moment 
in  which  he  had  deprived  himself  of  his  two  most 
zealous  and  devoted  friends  was  pregnant  with  men- 
ace, and  the  nation  could  ill  afiford  to  sustain  so  seri- 
ous a  loss. 

The  Emperor,  after  having  awaited  for  some 
months  a  renewal  of  the  negotiations  into  which  he 
had  entered  with  the  French  King,  was  no  sooner  ap- 
prised that  a  marriage  was  about  to  take  place  be- 
tween the  Due  de  Cleves  and  Jeanne  d'Albret,  whose 
hand  he  had  demanded  for  his  own  son,  than,  feeling 
the  futility  of  anticipating  any  satisfactory  result  to 
his  propositions,  on  the  nth  of  October,  1540,  he  had 
at  Brussels  invested  Dom  Philippe  with  the  duchy  of 
Milan ;  and  this  important  step  once  taken,  his  next 
care  was  to  promote  a  rupture  between  the  courts  of 
Paris  and  Constantinople ;  and  at  the  same  time  to 
excite  the  suspicions  of  the  Christian  Princes  as  to 
the  good  faith  of  Francis. 

The  Sultan  was  already  prepared  to  view  the  policy 
of  the  French  King  with  a  jealous  eye ;  first  from  his 
having  failed  him  in  Piedmont,  and  still  more  recently 
from  the  fact  of  his  having  suffered  the  passage  of 
Charles  V.  through  his  dominions ;  while  the  Vene- 
tians, conscious  that  they  had  narrowly  escaped  de- 


236  Reign  of 

struction,  and  convinced  by  experience  that  they  had 
more  to  fear  from  the  enmity  of  the  Infidels  than  they 
had  to  hope  from  the  support  of  the  Emperor,  had 
determined  to  efifect  an  aUiance  with  Solyman.  This 
was  a  catastrophe  which  had  not  been  foreseen  by 
Charles  V. ;  and  one  so  formidable  that  all  his  meas- 
ures were  at  once  arrested  by  the  necessity  of  main- 
taining the  semblance  of  a  perfect  amity  with  the 
French  King.  In  order  to  accomplish  so  desirable 
an  object,  he  therefore  at  once  wrote  to  request  of 
Francis  that  he  would  permit  the  Marechal  d'Anne- 
baut  to  proceed  to  Venice  in  the  company  of  the 
Marquis  del  Guasto,  to  assure  the  States  that  their 
apprehensions  were  unfounded,  and  to  endeavour  to 
include  them  in  their  league  against  the  Infidels.  His 
request  was  immediately  complied  with,  but  the  Vene- 
tians had  been  so  frequently  deceived  by  statements 
of  the  same  nature,  that  they  received  the  envoys  very 
coldly,  declaring  that  no  real  friendship  could  exist 
between  their  several  sovereigns  until  the  Milanese 
were  ceded  to  France;  an  event  which  had  now  be- 
come more  improbable  than  ever.  Del  Guasto  argued 
and  remonstrated  in  vain ;  the  States  civilly  declined 
to  declare  themselves  convinced ;  and  it  was  not  long 
ere  they  concluded  a  truce  with  the  Ottomans,  which 
was  subsequently  ratified  by  a  treaty  of  peace. 

This  open  demonstration  of  contempt  on  the  part 
of  the  Venetians  aroused  the  indignation  of  Francis ; 
who,  not  without  cause,  attributed  the  affront  to 
which  he  had  thus  been  subjected,  to  the  double  deal- 
ing of  the  Emperor ;  and  he  at  once  resolved  to  justify 
himself  in  the  opinion  both  of  the  Sultan  and  the  states 


Francis  I  237 

of  Venice,  by  imparting  to  them  without  reserve  a 
detail  of  all  that  had  taken  place  between  himself  and 
Charles  V.  For  this  purpose,  he  despatched  as  his 
ambassadors  to  the  council  of  Venice  a  gallant  officer 
named  Csesar  Fregosa,  a  knight  of  the  order  of  St. 
Michael,  who  had  done  him  good  service  in  Piedmont, 
and  Antoine  Rincon,  one  of  the  gentlemen  of  his  bed- 
chamber, who  was  invested  with  the  like  dignity,  and 
instructed  to  proceed  to  Constantinople  by  the  same 
route,  and,  consequently,  to  accompany  his  colleague 
to  his  allotted  post.  Rincon,  however,  having  some 
private  business  to  arrange  at  Lyons,  first  visited  that 
city,  where  he  was  detained  for  a  short  time;  while 
Fregosa  advanced  as  far  as  Suza,  to  inspect  a  troop 
of  gensdarmes  of  which  the  command  had  recently 
been  confided  to  him.  Du  Bellay-Langei,  who  had 
been  appointed  lieutenant-general  in  Piedmont  after 
the  death  of  Chabot,  was  at  that  period  residing  at 
Turin ;  and  the  delay  of  the  two  ambassadors  afiforded 
him  an  opportunity  of  discovering  a  treacherous  plot 
which  had  been  laid  by  the  Marquis  del  Guasto  for 
their  destruction. 

The  extreme  corpulency  of  Rincon  rendering  him 
unable  to  attempt  the  exertion  of  riding,  it  had  been 
decided  that  the  envoys  and  their  suite  should  avail 
themselves  of  the  barges  upon  the  P6,  which,  by  virt- 
ue of  the  then  existing  truce,  was  considered  to  be 
an  equally  safe  and  convenient  method  of  performing 
the  journey.  Del  Guasto  had,  however,  no  sooner 
ascertained  this  arrrangement,  than,  disregarding  the 
sacredness  of  the  pledge  given  by  his  imperial  master, 
he  hired  assassins,  who  were  stationed  at  different 


238  Reign  of 

points  along  the  river,  for  the  purpose  of  intercepting 
their  progress,  and  possessing  themselves  of  their 
despatches,  with  strict  orders  to  secure  them  at  all 
hazards,  even  should  the  lives  of  the  envoys  be  sac- 
rificed in  the  struggle,  or  their  destruction  rendered 
necessary  to  ensure  the  secrecy  of  their  mission. 

On  the  1st  of  July  the  two  ambassadors  reached 
Rivoli,  where  they  were  met  by  the  vigilant  Langei, 
who  strongly  urged  them  to  abandon  the  river,  and  at 
any  sacrifice  to  pursue  a  different  route;  but  Rincon, 
who,  as  we  have  stated,  could  ill  brook  the  saddle,  and 
who  had,  moreover,  been  long  accustomed  to  travel  in 
uncivilized  countries,  disregarded  the  advice,  declar- 
ing that,  whatever  might  be  the  determination  of  his 
companion,  he  should  himself  proceed  by  water ;  nor 
was  it  without  extreme  difficulty  that  Du  Bellay  finally 
induced  him  to  entrust  his  despatches  to  his  own  care, 
pledging  himself  for  their  safe  delivery  in  Venice. 
Fregosa,  who  had  not  the  same  reasons  for  exposing 
himself  to  gratuitous  danger,  hesitated  for  a  time  as 
to  which  measure  he  should  adopt ;  but  he  soon  per- 
mitted himself  to  be  won  over  by  the  confident  assur- 
ances of  his  colleague ;  and,  despite  the  persevering 
expostulations  of  the  more  prudent  Langei,  the  ill- 
fated  envoys  left  the  city  at  twilight,  on  the  2d  of  July, 
in  two  swift  boats,  each  pulling  eight  oars. 

At  midday  on  the  morrow,  when  they  were  within 
three  miles  of  the  mouth  of  the  Ticino,  and  about  the 
same  distance  from  Pavia,  they  were  suddenly  at- 
tacked by  a  couple  of  barges  full  of  armed  men,  who 
immediately  cut  off  all  communication  between  the 
two  boats ;  and  they  had  no  sooner  boarded  that  con- 


Francis  I  239 

taining  the  ambassadors,  than  a  desperate  encounter 
took  place,  in  which  both  Fregosa  and  Rincon  lost 
their  lives ;  when  their  rowers  were  immediately  se- 
cured, and  conveyed  to  the  dungeons  of  Pavia. 

Meanwhile  the  boat  which  conveyed  their  attend- 
ants, forgotten  for  the  instant  by  the  miscreants  who 
were  intent  upon  their  principal  prey,  was  enabled  to 
reach  the  opposite  bank,  where  all  its  occupants  sprang 
to  land,  and  escaped  into  the  forest ;  whence  they  made 
their  way  to  the  quarters  of  Du  Bellay,  and  gave  him 
a  detailed  account  of  the  frightful  catastrophe.  With 
his  usual  caution,  however,  that  able  general,  until  he 
could  succeed  in  securing  the  most  irrefragable  proofs 
of  the  delinquency  of  Del  Guasto,  forbore  all  com- 
plaint; and  even  compelled  himself  to  receive  with 
civility  the  affected  condolences  of  the  Marquis,  and 
to  appear  to  give  credit  to  his  assurances  that  the 
crime  had  been  committed  by  brigands ;  but  he  had 
no  sooner  possessed  himself  of  sufficient  evidence  of 
the  guilt  of  the  imperalist  assassin,  than  he  formally 
accused  Del  Guasto  of  the  outrage  which  had  been 
offered  to  his  sovereign  in  the  persons  of  his  accred- 
ited ambassadors,  and  challenged  him  to  prove  his 
innocence. 

This  was,  however,  impossible,  as  Langei,  resolved 
to  leave  no  method  unattempted  to  unmask  the  whole 
conspiracy,  upon  learning  from  the  fugitives  that  the 
rowers  of  the  captured  boat  had  been  made  prisoners 
and  conveyed  to  Pavia,  soon  found  means  to  bribe 
a  servant  of  the  governor  of  that  citadel,  who  secretly 
provided  the  boatmen  with  files,  by  which  they  were 
enabled  to  effect  their  escape ;  and  from  whom  he 
obtained  all  the  information  which  he  could  desire. 


240  Reign  of 

The  reply  of  Del  Guasto  to  this  overt  accusation  was 
the  puerile  expedient  of  challenging  his  accuser,  the 
overwhelming  proofs  of  his  guilt  possessed  by  Du 
Bellay  depriving  him  of  all  means  of  self-justification ; 
while  the  Republic  of  Venice,  indignant  that  so  base 
a  murder  should  have  been  committed  within  their  ter- 
ritories, pursued  the  assassins,  and  succeeded  in  ar- 
resting several  of  their  number,  all  of  whom  were 
recognised  to  be  in  the  pay  of  the  Marquis;  but,  al- 
though they  were  publicly  tried  and  executed,  Del 
Guasto,  in  order  to  complete  his  work  of  treachery, 
suffered  them  to  undergo  their  sentence  without  the 
slightest  effort  at  interference ;  simply  protesting  that, 
if  they  were  justly  condemned,  they  had  acted  upon 
their  own  responsibility,  and  without  his  knowledge. 

This  investigation  was  no  sooner  terminated  than 
Du  Bellay  drew  up  in  duplicate  a  detailed  statement 
of  the  whole  occurrence,  one  copy  of  which  he  for- 
warded to  the  Emperor,  and  the  other  to  the  Diet  of 
the  German  States  which  was  shortly  afterwards  as- 
sembled at  Ratisbon;  and  ere  long  all  the  Princes  of 
Christendom  were  informed  of  the  atrocious  deed 
which  had  been  perpetrated,  in  violation  of  the  recog- 
nised rights  which  are  held  sacred  by  all  civilized 
nations. 

Great  was  the  indignation  expressed  by  the  respec- 
tive sovereigns,  who  thus  saw  the  very  foundations 
of  their  safety  shaken;  but  it  was  still  feeble  beside 
that  of  Francis,  who  at  once  summoned  the  Emperor 
to  make  reparation  for  the  affront  which  had  been 
offered  to  him ;  and  reminded  him  that  this  was  not 
the  first  occasion  upon  which  he  had  been  called  upon 


Francis  I  241 

to  suffer  from  the  treachery  of  his  assassins.  Charles, 
however,  replied  to  this  demand  only  by  recrimina- 
tions; alleging  that  if,  instead  of  pursuing  a  corre- 
spondence with  Solyman,  Francis  had,  like  himself, 
been  preparing  for  a  new  crusade  against  the  Infidels, 
his  envoys  would  not  have  fallen  victims  to  his  crooked 
policy ;  or,  as  he  himself  believed,  to  the  cupidity  of 
a  horde  of  robbers.  Although  he  could  not  mistake 
the  meaning  of  the  French  King,  he  abstained  from 
any  allusion  to  Montecuculli,  or  to  the  murder  of 
Maraviglia,  as  if  in  disdain  of  accusations  so  vague 
and  monstrous  ;  and  thus  the  outraged  monarch  found 
himself  compelled  to  adopt  more  stringent  measures 
in  order  to  secure  his  vengeance. 

Charles  V.  was,  effectively,  at  that  precise  moment, 
raising  a  powerful  fleet  to  operate  against  the  African 
corsairs ;  his  previous  successes  against  the  Infidels 
having  roused  his  ambition  to  maintain  the  distinction 
which  he  had  already  won,  and  to  be  regarded  as  the 
champion  of  Christendom  ;  a  title  of  which,  moreover, 
he  was  aware  that  Francis  was  more  jealous  than  of 
any  other  he  had  acquired. 

The  opportunity  of  reprisals  so  ardently  desired  by 
the  French  King  was  not  long  in  presenting  itself. 
George  of  Austria,  Archbishop  of  Valence,  the  natural 
son  of  the  Emperor,  who  was  on  his  way  from  Spain 
to  Belgium,  having  halted  at  Lyons,  Francis  caused 
him  to  be  arrested,  declaring  that  he  would  retain  him 
as  a  hostage  until  Fregosa  and  Rincon,  if  still  living, 
were  restored  to  him  in  safety ;  or  in  the  event  of  this 
being  impossible,  that  their  murderers  should  be  con- 
signed to  an  ignominious  death ;  a  mode  of  revenge 
Vol.  III.— 16 


242  Reign  of 

which,  puerile  as  it  appeared,  was  far  from  being  so  in 
fact,  the  extreme  partiality  of  the  Emperor  for  this 
prelate  being  matter  of  notoriety.  A  short  time  subse- 
quently, moreover,  Francis  having  ascertained  that 
Charles  V.  and  the  Pope  were  to  have  an  inlervnew  at 
Lucca  before  the  embarkation  of  the  former  for  Al- 
giers, he  desired  his  ambassador  to  attend  the  con- 
ference; and  to  demand  once  more,  in  his  name,  the 
restoration  of  his  murdered  envoys,  or  the  condign 
punishment  of  their  assassins. 

This  demonstration  was,  however,  met  as  coldly  as 
the  last,  Charles  being  well  aware  that  a  considerable 
period  must  elapse  ere  the  King  could  proceed,  with 
any  chance  of  success,  to  aggressive  measures;  and 
it  was  in  consequence  of  this  conviction  that  he  per- 
sisted in  disregarding  the  expostulations  of  the  pon- 
tiff, who  earnestly  represented  that  he  would  better 
consult  the  safety  of  Christendom  by  remaining  to 
guard  the  frontiers  of  Italy  against  Solyman  (by  whom 
his  brother  Ferdinand  had  recently  been  vanquished 
before  Buda,  and  compelled  to  abandon  that  city), 
than  by  any  distant  expedition,  however  important. 

The  arguments  of  His  Holiness  availed  nothing; 
the  Emperor  feeling  convinced  that  he  must  at  once 
set  sail,  or  altogether  abandon  his  darling  project ;  as, 
should  he  afford  Francis  sufficient  time  to  assemble 
an  army,  he  would  inevitably  avail  himself  of  the  op- 
portunity of  his  absence  to  possess  himself  of  the 
Milanese.  He  therefore  continued  to  hasten  his  prep- 
arations ;  having  already  at  the  Diet  at  Ratisbon  ac- 
corded to  the  Protestant  Princes,  whose  friendship  he 
was  anxious  to  secure  during  his  foreign  campaign,  an 


Francis  I  243 

interregnum  or  truce,  by  which  they  were  authorized 
to  retain  the  free  exercise  of  their  rehgion  until  the  de- 
cision of  the  general  council ;  while,  in  requital  of  this 
concession,  the  Diet  consented  to  supply  him  with  a 
large  body  of  troops  to  assist  against  the  Turks;  de- 
clared the  Due  de  Cleves  the  enemy  of  the  empire;  en- 
gaged to  co-operate  in  the  reinstatement  of  the  Duke  of 
Savoy  in  his  sovereignty;  and  prohibited  all  subjects  of 
the  empire  from  serving  in  the  armies  of  France. 

Although  the  original  intention  of  the  Emperor  had 
been  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  coast  of  Africa,  it  was 
anticipated  that  the  defeat  of  his  brother  would  in- 
duce him  to  commence  his  campaign  by  an  attack  upon 
Solyman;  but,  contrary  to  all  expectations,  he  per- 
sisted in  his  original  project,  although  the  close  of 
autumn  having  arrived,  the  season  was  most  unpro- 
pitious  to  such  an  enterprise.  Accordingly,  on  the  i8th 
of  October,  he  set  sail  from  Majorca  with  twenty  thou- 
sand infantry  and  two  thousand  horse,  the  elite  of  his 
combined  armies.  On  the  following  day  a  severe 
storm  scattered  his  vessels,  and  exposed  the  troops 
to  severe  suffering  from  the  crowded  state  of  the  ships ; 
but  on  the  20th  the  imperial  fleet  was  enabled,  with 
considerable  difficulty,  owing  to  the  continuance  of 
the  hurricane,  to  cast  anchor  between  the  city  of  Al- 
giers and  the  river  of  El  Harach,  where  the  disem- 
barkation took  place.  The  soldiery  effected  their  land- 
ing in  safety ;  but  before  the  bulk  of  their  ammunition 
and  provisions  could  be  secured,  the  tempest  became 
once  more  so  violent  that  fifteen  vessels  of  war,  a  hun- 
dred and  forty  transports,  and  eight  thousand  seamen, 
were  swallowed  by  the  waves ;  while  at  the  same  time 


244  Reign  of 

an  immense  water-spout  burst  over  the  camp,  which 
caused  a  great  sacrifice  of  life ;  and  thus  the  elements 
within  five  days  revenged  Barbarossa  for  his  former 
defeat. 

Andrea  Doria,  with  the  wreck  of  the  gallant  fleet 
which  had  so  recently  excited  such  brilliant  hopes,  had 
taken  refuge  behind  Cape  Metafuz ;  and  he  was  fortu- 
nate enough  to  be  enabled  within  a  few  hours  to  ap- 
prise the  Emperor,  whose  situation  was  at  that  mo- 
ment desperate,  of  his  safety.  The  small  quantity  of 
powder  which  had  been  landed  was  utterly  destroyed 
by  the  water,  and  a  considerable  number  of  the  troops 
were  drowned;  while  the  remainder,  utterly  without 
food  of  any  description,  and  harassed  by  the  Algerine 
horsemen,  had  scarcely  sufficient  strength  left  to  make 
their  way  to  the  ships,  although  the  distance  did  not 
exceed  four  leagues ;  but  at  length,  on  the  31st  of  Oc- 
tober, they  once  more  found  themselves  on  board,  al- 
though no  longer  in  a  condition  to  molest  the  Infidels. 
Nor  were  they  more  fortunate  in  their  exodus  than 
in  their  advent ;  for  the  tempest,  still  unsated  with  its 
prey,  pursued  the  fleet  so  relentlessly,  that  it  was  once 
more  dispersed ;  nor  was  it  until  the  3d  of  December 
that  the  Emperor  arrived  at  Carthagena  storm-tossed 
and  alone,  each  of  the  vessels  which  were  fortunate 
enough  to  survive  the  passage  having  made  a  different 
port. 

Great  was  the  terror  which  the  knowledge  of  this 
calamity  spread  over  Europe.  The  Turks  were  now 
masters  of  Hungary,  and  were  threatening  Vienna; 
the  whole  coast  of  the  Mediterranean  was  defenceless ; 
the  triple  army  of  Charles  destroyed ;  and  all  Christen- 


Francis  I  245 

dom  exposed  to  the  power  of  the  conquering  Solyman. 
In  France  alone  was  a  secret  Te  Dcnm  raised,  for  her 
most  dreaded  enemy  was  laid  low ;  and  Francis  re- 
solved no  longer  to  postpone  a  war  which  he  justified 
by  pretexting  the  non-fulfilment  of  his  demand  for 
vengeance  on  the  murderers  of  his  two  ambassadors. 

Some  of  the  more  cautious  of  his  councillors  sug- 
gested the  expediency  of  delay  until  he  should  have 
completed  the  fortification  of  his  frontiers,  and  ter- 
minated the  treaties  into  which  he  had  entered ;  but 
he  merely  referred  them  to  the  ruined  condition  of  the 
Emperor's  army,  and  refused  to  listen  to  their  repre- 
sentations. He  was  next  advised  to  make  an  imme- 
diate descent  upon  Piedmont,  an  act  which  would  in 
itself  be  equivalent  to  a  formal  declaration  of  war ;  and 
had  he  acted  upon  this  suggestion  he  must  speedily 
have  made  himself  master  of  the  whole  of  that  province  ; 
but  his  desire  to  avoid  the  immense  outlay  necessary 
to  maintain  an  army  in  Italy,  determined  him  to  com- 
mence his  campaign  by  the  Low  Countries,  to  which 
he  had  been  urged  by  several  of  the  German  Princes, 
who  pledged  themselves  to  support  him  in  any  act  of 
aggression  against  Charles  which  might  assist  their 
own  views.  He  was  "also  anxious  to  secure  the  co- 
operation of  the  Duke  of  Cleves,  of  whom  Charles  had 
vowed  the  destruction ;  and  he  accordingly  proceeded 
formally  to  declare  hostilities  against  the  Emperor. 

This  was  no  sooner  done  than  he  divided  his  troops 
into  five  distinct  bodies,  in  order  simultaneously  to  at- 
tack the  enemy  on  as  many  different  points.  The  Dau- 
phin proceeded  to  Perpignan,  with  Antoine  Desprez- 
Montpezat  as  his  lieutenant;  the  Due  d'Orleans  was 


246  Reign  of 

despatched  to  Luxembourg,  seconded  by  Claude,  Due 
de  Guise  ;*  a  third  division  marched  to  Brabant,  under 
the  joint  command  of  Nicholas  de  Bossu,  Sieur  de  Lon- 
gueval,  and  of  Martin  Von  Rossem,f  Marechal  de 
Gueldres ;  a  fourth,  under  Charles,  Due  de  Vendome, 
was  entrusted  with  the  protection  of  the  Flemish  fron- 
tiers ;  and  the  fifth  was  marched  into  Piedmont  by  the 
Marechal  d'Annebaut.  The  latter,  however,  having 
been  compelled  to  remain  inactive  for  the  space  of  two 
months,  was  recalled  to  join  the  army  under  the  Dau- 
phin, which  ultimately  amounted  to  forty-five  thou- 
sand men,  headed  by  the  first  nobility  of  France. 

The  Marechal  de  Gueldres,  who  was  a  general  of 
consummate  skill  and  daring,  and  moreover,  utterly 
without  scruple  as  regarded  the  means  by  which  he 
carried  out  his  measures,  was  anxious  to  follow  the 
example  of  Seckingen,  and  to  make  the  war  pay  its 
own  expenses.  He  consequently  no  sooner  found  him- 
self at  the  head  of  twelve  thousand  lansquenets  and 
two  thousand  German  horse,  than  he  permitted  his 
troops  to  indulge  in  every  species  of  excess  towards 
the  inhabitants  of  the  invaded  provinces,  while  he 

*  Claude,  Due  d' Aumale  and  de  Guise,  was  the  seventh  son  of  R^n6  II., 
Due  de  Lorraine. 

t  Martin  Von  Rossem  (or  Roscheim)  was  one  of  the  bravest  generals 
of  the  Due  de  Cleves,  and  acquitted  himself  with  great  distinction  on 
several  occasions.  He  defeated  the  Prince  of  Orange  in  the  campaign 
of  1542,  and  compelled  him  to  shut  himself  up  in  Antwerp,  of  which 
city  he  might  have  possessed  himself  had  not  his  love  of  dissipation 
caused  him  to  suffer  the  propitious  moment  to  escape.  When  too  late, 
he  attempted  to  retrieve  his  error,  but  failed,  although  he  destroyed 
half  the  faubourgs  by  fire.  Dueren  having  been  taken  by  assault,  and 
the  province  of  Gueldres  reduced  to  submission  by  the  Emperor,  the 
monarch  restored  both  the  Duke  and  his  valiant  marechal  to  his  favour ; 
and  appointed  the  latter  to  a  high  command  in  his  army.  Von  Rossem 
ultimately  fell  a  victim  to  the  plague  at  Antwerp,  in  1555. 


Francis  I  247 

hevertheless  maintained  the  most  rigorous  discipline 
among  themselves. 

The  Queen  of  Hungary,  Governante  of  the  Low 
Countries,  terrified  by  the  enormities  committed  on 
her  frontiers,  appealed  to  the  Due  de  Cleves  to  declare 
the  nature  of  his  intentions ;  but  he  contented  himself 
by  assuring  her  that  the  force  of  which  she  complained 
was  not  in  his  pay,  nor  was  he  responsible  for  its  pro- 
ceedings ;  although  he  imagined  that  it  was  composed 
of  volunteers  about  to  march  against  the  Turks.  She 
then  addressed  herself  to  Francis,  who  merely  replied 
by  telHng  her  that  his  own  intentions  were  pacific; 
and  thus  left  to  her  own  resources,  she  had  the  mortifi- 
cation of  seeing  Von  Rossem  advance  to  Liege,  cross 
the  Meuse,  and  ultimately  compel  the  Prince  of  Or- 
ange to  sJhut  himself  up  in  Antwerp,  after  a  loss  of 
fourteen  hundred  men  and  six  standards. 

The  assemblage  of  a  strong  army  in  the  south  awak- 
ened all  the  ambition  of  Marguerite  de  Navarre,  who 
entreated  her  brother  to  employ  it  in  the  recovery  of 
her  husband's  kingdom,  but  he  was  dissuaded  from  the 
attempt  by  the  Marechal  de  Montpezat,  and  it  was 
determined  that  the  Dauphin  should  at  once  proceed 
against  Roussillon,  while  the  Emperor  was  concentrat- 
ing his  forces  upon  the  Milanese. 

This  campaign  was  destined  to  complete  the  moral 
turpitude  of  the  unprincipled  favourite,  who  in  her  anx- 
iety to  ruin  Diana  de  Poitiers  through  her  lover,  en- 
tered into  a  secret  correspondence  with  the  Emperor, 
which  tended  to  counteract  all  the  endeavours  of  the 
Dauphin.  Her  agent  in  this  act  of  treachery  was  the 
Comte  de  Bossut,  of  the  house  of  Longueval,  who  at 


248  Reign  of 

the  commencement  of  the  following  reign  narrowly 
escaped  decapitation  for  his  share  in  the  nefarious 
transaction.  This  noble  was  one  of  the  many  lovers 
of  the  Duchess,  and  was  induced  to  requite  her  con- 
descension by  betraying  the  interests  of  his  sovereign. 

The  two  young  Princes  were  equally  brave,  and 
equally  ambitious  of  renown ;  but  the  advantage  was 
on  the  side  of  the  elder,  who,  more  prudent,  more  self- 
possessed,  and  less  the  victim  of  impulse  than  his 
brother,  was  far  better  calculated  for  the  command  of 
an  army.  Nevertheless,  he  was  compelled  to  abandon 
the  siege  of  Roussillon,  the  enemy  having,  through 
the  agency  of  Madame  d'Etampes,  been  apprised  of  his 
design  upon  the  city,  in  time  to  strengthen  it  by  throw- 
ing ten  thousand  troops  into  the  citadel ;  while  d'Anne- 
baut,  whom  tradition  boldly  affirms  to  have  been 
united  to  her  by  closer  bonds  than  those  of  mere 
friendship,  was  guilty  of  such  extraordinary  errors 
during  the  siege,  as  to  draw  down  upon  him  the  sus- 
picions of  all  the  other  generals ;  and  even  to  extort 
from  the  King  himself  the  avowal  that  he  was  aware 
he  had  been  betrayed,  and  that  he  did  not  attribute 
the  failure  to  the  Dauphin  personally,  but  to  those  by 
whom  he  had  been  misled,  either  through  ignorance, 
or  a  jealousy  of  others  who  had  succeeded  better  than 
themselves. 

This  allusion  bore  reference  to  the  Due  d'Orleans, 
who  had  in  succession  taken  DanviUiers,  Yvry,  Arlon, 
Montmedy,  and  even  Luxembourg;  although,  from 
some  motive  which  has  remained  unrevealed,  he  sud- 
denly quitted  the  army,  and  rejoined  the  King  his 
father  at  Montpellier;    an  imprudence  of  which  the 


Francis  I  249 

enemy  immediately  availed  themselves  to  recover  the 
two  latter  cities.  The  Due  de  Guise,  however,  suc- 
ceeded in  once  more  possessing  himself  of  Montmedy, 
but  Luxembourg  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  im- 
perialists. 

The  war  in  Roussillon  was  languidly  pursued ;  Per- 
pignan,  which  the  French  had  trusted  to  find  an  easy 
conquest,  from  the  imperfect  state  of  its  fortifications, 
still  held  out ;  and  had  been  so  strongly  garrisoned 
by  the  Emperor  as  to  resist  every  effort  of  the  French 
generals  to  take  it  by  assault ;  while  the  appearance  of 
dysentery  among  the  troops,  and  the  approach  of  win- 
ter compelled  the  Dauphin  to  dissolve  his  camp  and  to 
abandon  the  siege  of  the  city;  upon  which  Francis 
despatched  d'Annebaut  to  Piedmont,  where  Du  Bellay- 
Langei  had,  with  a  very  insufficient  force,  been  em- 
ployed in  thwarting  the  operations  of  Del  Guasto ;  not 
having  it  in  his  power,  for  want  of  troops,  to  adopt 
any  more  active  measures.  To  the  mortification  of  the 
veteran  commander  in  thus  finding  himself  superseded 
in  his  command  by  a  younger  and  less  experienced 
general  than  himself,  was  superadded  that  of  discover- 
ing that  d'Annebaut,  inflated  by  court  favour,  was  lit- 
tle disposed  to  defer  to  his  advice  ;  and  he  consequently 
resolved  immediately  to  withdraw  from  a  position  alike 
irksome  to  his  feelings  and  perilous  to  his  honour ;  and 
to  make  a  personal  communication  to  Francis  of  such 
circumstances  as  he  believed  to  be  of  importance  to 
the  interests  of  the  kingdom. 

Injured  and  wounded  as  he  had  been,  Langei  would 
not  permit  any  selfish  consideration  to  influence  his 
sense  of  duty  as  a  loyal  subject;   and  accordingly  he 


250  Reign  of 

had  no  sooner  made  the  requisite  arrangements  than 
he  commenced  his  homeward  journey ;  but  the  exer- 
tion proved  too  great  for  his  infirm  and  war-worn  con- 
stitution, and  on  reaching  St.  Saphorin,  near  the  moun- 
tain of  Tarare,  he  was  seized  with  a  sudden  attack  of 
gout  in  the  stomach,  which  terminated  his  vahiable 
existence  on  the  9th  of  January,  1543.* 

Another  pearl  had  fallen  from  the  diadem  of  Fran- 
cis I. 

A  wise  counsellor,  a  brave  soldier,  an  able  scholar, 
and  an  honest  man,  Du  Bellay-Langei  was  a  noble  il- 
lustration of  the  age ;  but  his  very  virtues  had  operated 
against  his  fortunes.  His  merit  had  been  cheerfully 
and  frequently  admitted  by  the  King,  but  his  reward 
had  been  merely  lip-deep.  Charles  V.,  however,  did 
him  nobler  justice  by  exclaiming,  when  the  intelli- 
gence of  his  death  was  communicated  to  him :  "  Is 
Langei  dead  ?  Then  have  I  nothing  more  to  apprehend 
from  a  man  who  has  done  me  more  mischief  in  his 
time  than  all  the  other  subjects  of  France  combined." 

He  was  succeeded  by  his  brother,  Martin  Du  Bellay, 
who  in  his  turn  assumed  the  family  name  of  Langei, 
and  was  promoted  to  the  government  of  Turin  on  the 
departure  of  d'Annebaut ;  who  during  the  winter  re- 
paired to  France,  to  confer  personally  with  the  King 
upon  the  measures  necessary  to  be  pursued  in  the 

•  M.  de  Langei  was  accompanied  in  his  homeward  journey  by  the 
celebrated  Rabelais,  who  was  at  that  period  his  physician;  and  to 
whom  he  bequeathed  a  pension  of  fifty  annual  livres  "  until  his  heirs 
should  have  provided  for  him,  or  that  he  should  have  acquired  church 
preferment  to  the  amount  of  a  hundred  Tournay  livres  a  year."  It  is 
believed  that  it  was  to  this  clause  in  the  will  of  the  Mar^chal  Du  Bellay, 
that  Rabelais  was  subsequently  indebted  for  the  cure  of  Meudon. 


Francis  I  251 

-  campaign  of  the  following  spring,  leaving  the  com- 
mand of  the  army  to  M.  de  Boutieres.* 

The  sustained  and  even  increased  disgust  which 
Francis  exhibited  towards  the  disgraced  Connetable, 
was  destined  to  react  in  a  favourable  manner  upon  the 
Marechal  d'Annebaut,  who,  a  short  time  after  his  ar- 
rival at  court,  was  appointed  to  the  rank  of  admiral, 
vacant  by  the  death  of  Chabot ;  but  still  the  King,  irri- 
tated by  the  equivocal  success  of  the  war,  which  he  had 
commenced  under  the  conviction  that  like  Caesar  he 
had  only  to  come,  to  see,  and  to  conquer,  could  not 
reconcile  himself  to  the  failure  before  Perpignan ;  and, 
accordingly,  having  resolved  not  to  visit  upon  d'Anne- 
baut the  humiliating  defeat  which  he  had  suffered  upon 
that  occasion,  he  was  persuaded  into  attributing  the 
disaster  to  his  colleague  Montpezat,  who  was  accord- 
ingly deprived  of  his  office,  and  sent  into  exile  for  not 
having  implicitly  obeyed  the  orders  of  his  superior 
officer. 

The  health  of  the  King,  which  at  this  period  was  be- 
ginning rapidly  to  fail,  rendered  him  unable  to  pursue 
the  course  of  dissipation  in  which  he  had  hitherto  in- 
dulged ;  while  the  moroseness  and  suspicion  to  which 
we  have  already  alluded  increased  with  his  infirmities, 

•M.  de  Boutieres  commenced  his  military  career  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
as  an  archer  in  the  company  of  Bayard  at  Padua,  where  he  took  a 
standard  from  the  imperialists,  and  made  prisoner  the  captain  by  whom 
it  had  been  carried;  who,  on  being  taunted  with  his  surrender  to  a  mere 
boy,  declared  that  he  had  been  overpowered  by  numbers,  and  did  not 
consider  himself  as  the  captive  of  the  lad  who  claimed  his  ransom; 
whereupon  Boutieres  requested  that  the  horse  and  arms  of  the  prisoner 
might  be  restored  to  him,  in  order  that  they  might  decide  the  question 
single-handed;  a  proposal  which  was  declined  by  his  prisoner.  He  after- 
wards became  the  lieutenant  of  Bayard;  and  during  the  siege  of  Mar- 
seilles by  Charles  V.,  afforded  the  most  valuable  assistance  to  Barbesieux 
and  Montpezat. 


252  Reign  of 

and  was,  moreover,  augmented  by  the  growing  enmity 
of  the  two  Princes.  The  Dauphin  had  now  attained 
his  twenty-third,  and  the  Due  d'Orleans  his  twenty- 
first  year.  Each  was  emulous  of  renown,  and  person- 
ally brave ;  but  there  the  resemblance  between  them 
ceased.  Henry  was  grave  and  taciturn,  with  a  pale 
complexion,  languid  expression,  and  singularly  heavy 
eyes;  while  Charles  was  high-coloured,  vigorous, 
frank,  and  active.  The  Dauphin  inspired  awe ;  but  his 
brother  won  the  affections  of  all  about  him. 

It  might  have  been  anticipated  that,  under  these  cir- 
cumstances, the  King  would  have  sought  sympathy 
and  comfort  in  the  society  of  his  amiable  and  forbear- 
ing wife,  but  he  still  continued  to  evince  the  same  in- 
difference towards  her  as  he  had  done  in  his  days  of 
pride  and  strength.  Catherine  de'  Medici,  Madame 
d'Etampes,  and  Diana  de  Poitiers,  were  all-powerful; 
and  although  the  undying  hatred  of  the  two  latter  ladies 
convulsed  the  court  with  broils,  Francis  permitted 
them  to  pursue  their  career  of  jealousy  unrebuked, 
while  the  deportment  of  the  Dauphiness  was  so  re- 
markable as  to  elicit  his  increased  admiration  and  re- 
gard, although  in  many  who  looked  deeper  it  awoke 
a  feeling  of  apprehension  which  was  afterwards  fatally 
justified.  Coldly  respectful  with  the  Queen,  and  even 
obsequious  towards  the  favourite,  she  apparently  at- 
tached herself  more  warmly  to  her  rival  than  to  any 
other  individual  of  the  royal  circle;  soothing  her 
wounded  vanity  whenever  it  was  stung  by  the  bitter 
and  epigrammatic  wit  of  the  Duchess,  and  affecting 
to  be  totally  unconscious  of  her  liaison  with  the 
Dauphin. 


Francis  I  253 

Catherine  was  a  thorough  Medici;  she  did  not  ex- 
haust her  hatred  in  vain  complaints  or  passionate  sar- 
casm, but  like  the  tiger  was  content  to  watch  until  she 
could  make  her  spring  deadly.  As  she  was  now  rarely 
called  upon  to  hunt  or  play  tennis  with  the  King,  whose 
debility  compelled  him  to  abjure  all  violent  exercise, 
she  at  once  assimilated  her  own  habits  to  his ;  and 
abandoning  the  pursuits  in  which  she  had  hitherto  ap- 
peared to  take  delight,  she  turned  her  whole  attention 
to  such  an  organization  of  her  little  court  as  could  not 
fail  to  render  it  attractive  to  the  sensual  monarch.  The 
ladies  of  her  household  were  all  eminent  for  their 
beauty,  their  accomplishments,  and  the  splendour  of 
their  apparel ;  while,  as  regarded  their  moral  attributes, 
no  further  detail  is  necessary  than  that  of  the  mere 
fact,  that  by  the  gallants  of  the  court  they  were  dis- 
tinguished as  the  light  brigade.  Nothing,  in  short,  could 
be  more  profligate  than  their  whole  deportment ;  and 
although  Catherine  herself  preserved  the  dignity  of 
her  sex,  she  attempted  no  interference  with  the  conduct 
of  her  attendants ;  and  thus  her  immediate  circle  be- 
came a  hot-bed  of  vice  and  intrigue,  rendered  only  the 
more  pernicious  by  the  specious  gloss  of  wit,  fascina- 
tion, and  splendour.  Her  saloons  were  bright  with 
light,  and  vocal  with  song  and  laughter;  every  day 
brought  its  pleasures,  many  of  them  ruinous  to  the 
royal  treasury,  but  all  welcome  to  the  querulous  inva- 
lid, who  yet  clung  to  the  shadow  of  his  former  vices, 
and  was  eager  to  encourage  himself  in  the  delusion 
that  a  few  roses  were  still  strewn  among  the  thorns  of 
his  painful  existence. 

It  is  consequently  scarcely  surprising  that  the  pri- 


254  Reign  of 

vate  apartments  of  his  beautiful  daughter-in-law  be- 
came the  chosen  resort  of  the  King ;  nor  was  it  long 
ere,  in  the  intervals  of  a  ballet,  or  during  the  repre- 
sentation of  a  comedy,  she  succeeded  in  possessing  her- 
self of  all  his  secrets,  and  influencing  all  his  actions. 
Indisposed  by  bodily  sufifering  for  public  business,  it 
was  only  at  rare  intervals  that  he  would  permit  his 
ministers  to  intrude  the  subject  upon  him ;  but  he 
nevertheless,  discoursed  freely  on  the  most  important 
measures  with  Catherine ;  who,  seated  at  her  tapestry 
frame  near  the  cushioned  divan  upon  which  he  re- 
clined, found  means,  now  by  one  of  those  equivocal 
witticisms  which  never  failed  to  awaken  the  mirth  of 
the  King,  and  now  by  a  shrewd  suggestion,  calculated 
to  determine  his  decision,  to  mould  him  to  her  pur- 
pose ;  and  thus,  unsuspected  and  unenvied,  to  exercise 
immense  influence  over  state  affairs. 

That,  notwithstanding  her  extraordinary  self-com- 
mand, she  nevertheless  failed  in  concealing  at  all  times 
the  real  vindictiveness  and  hypocrisy  of  her  character, 
is  evident  from  the  fact  that  she  never  addressed  any 
individual  as  "  My  friend  "  without  alarming  their  ap- 
prehensions :  from  her  lips  this  apparently  familiar  and 
confidential  appellation  was  considered  to  be  as  threat- 
ening as  the  "  My  father "  of  Francis  himself  had 
proved  to  the  unfortunate  Semblangay :  "  Ah,  Ma- 
dame," exclaimed  upon  one  occasion  a  gentleman  of 
her  household,  whom  she  had  so  named,  "  I  would  far 
sooner  that  you  called  me  your  enemy;  for  the  title 
which  you  have  just  bestowed  upon  me  convinces  me 
that  you  either  esteem  me  a  fool,  or  that  I  have  for- 
feited your  favour ;  so  well  and  so  thoroughly  do  I  un- 
derstand your  nature." 


Francis  I  255 

-  Catherine  laughed  heartily  at  this  frank  expostula- 
tion ;  and  it  is  a  curious  fact,  that  with  a  heart  as  cal- 
lous and  as  bitter  as  ever  beat  in  the  bosom  of  a  woman, 
she  was  remarkable  for  her  addiction  to  laughter,  in 
which  she  frequently  indulged  to  a  most  uncourtly  ex- 
cess. 

Her  worldly  wisdom,  however,  met  its  reward;  for 
when,  on  her  continuing  childless  throughout  several 
years,  the  King  was  urged  by  his  advisers  to  induce 
the  Dauphin  to  divorce  her,  in  order  to  secure  a  suc- 
cessor, so  firm  a  hold  had  she  taken  on  his  affections, 
that  he  resolutely  refused  to  countenance  such  a  meas- 
ure ;  nor  was  the  Prince  himself  more  willing  to  yield 
to  the  suggestion:  his  attachment  to  Madame  de 
Breze,  who  had  made  him  a  father,  and  his  total  in- 
difference to  the  Dauphiness,  whose  forbearance  left 
him  at  liberty  to  follow  his  inclination  without  com- 
ment or  reproach,  being  more  congenial  to  his  apa- 
thetic and  easy  disposition  than  the  prospect  of  a  pro- 
lific wife,  who  might  consider  herself  aggrieved  by  his 
infidelity. 

The  pecuniary  resources  of  Francis  had  been  so 
much  exhausted  by  the  unprofitable  campaign  of  his 
sons,  that  before  he  could  again  undertake  a  renewal 
of  the  war,  he  found  himself  compelled  to  devise  some 
new  method  of  raising  the  necessary  funds  ;  and  he  ac- 
cordingly embraced  with  eagerness  the  suggestion  of 
his  two  closest  friends,  d'Annebaut  and  the  Cardinal 
de  Tournon,*  that  he  should  augment  the  receipts  of 

*  Frangois  de  Tournon,  the  representative  of  an  ancient  and  illustrious 
family,  was  the  son  of  Jacques  de  Tournon  and  Jeanne  de  Polignac. 
Having  entered  the  Church  at  an  early  age,  he  first  became  a  monk  of 
the  abbey  of  St.  Antoine,  in  the  diocese  of  Vienna;  then  Abbe  of  La 


256  Reign  of 

the  salt-excise,  by  equalizing  the  price  of  that  impor- 
tant article  of  consumption  throughout  the  kingdom. 
The  inhabitants  of  La  Rochelle,  however,  resisted 
this  impost ;  and  not  only  refused  to  pay  the  additional 
tax,  but,  pleading  the  privileges  accorded  to  them  by 
previous  monarchs,  and  ratified  by  Francis  himself, 
proceeded  to  eject  by  force  the  officers  commissioned 
to  collect  it.  When  apprised  of  the  attempt  about  to 
be  made,  they  had  assembled  within  their  walls  a  gar- 
rison of  three  hundred  volunteers ;  and  the  revolt  ere 
long  became  so  serious,  that  the  King  found  it  neces- 
sary to  despatch  the  Due  d'Orleans  and  the  Marechal 
de  Tavannes,  with  a  strong  body  of  men,  to  the  rebel- 
lious city,  in  order  to  subdue  it.  As,  however,  by  virt- 
ue of  an  ancient  charter,  the  Rochellois  had  the  right 
of  defending  their  own  walls,  it  was  considered  expedi- 
ent to  introduce  a  portion  of  the  troops  by  stratagem ; 
after  which  the  main  body  applied  for  admittance, 
which  was  peremptorily  refused ;  when  M.  de  Tavannes 
showed  himself  in  the  main  street,  at  the  head  of  a 
hundred  cuirassiers,  while  a  strong  force  marched 
against  the  gates,  declaring  that  if  free  ingress  were 
not  immediately  accorded  to  the  troops  of  the  King, 
the  whole  population  would  be  put  to  the  sword,  and 
the  city  burnt  to  ashes.  Terrified  by  this  menace,  the 
citizens  abandoned  a  resistance  to  which  they  felt  un- 
equal, and  laid  down  their  arms. 

Chaise-Dieu;  and  subsequently  Archbishop  of  Embrun  in  1517,  of 
Bourges  in  1523,  of  Auch  in  1537,  and  of  Lyons  in  1559.  In  1530  he  was 
called  to  the  conclave  by  Clement  VII.;  and  his  abilities  as  a  diplomatist 
were  so  highly  appreciated  by  Francis  I.,  that  he  admitted  him  into 
his  privy  council.  He  was  entrusted  with  three  different  embassies,  to 
England,  Italy,  and  Spain;  founded  a  college  in  the  city  of  Tournon, 
which  was  the  property  of  his  family ;  and  died  in  1562. 


Francis  I  257 

Francis  no  sooner  learnt  that  the  town  was  in  the 
possession  of  his  son,  but  that  the  same  spirit  of  dis- 
aflfection  continued  to  exist  along  the  coast  and  in  the 
neighbouring  islands,  than  he  at  once  proceeded  to 
Rochelle  in  person ;  announcing  that  he  would  inflict 
condign  punishment  upon  the  instigators  and  abettors 
of  the  revolt.  The  threat  produced  its  anticipated  ef- 
fect ;  a  deputation  of  twenty-five  of  the  principal  citi- 
zens were  sent  to  meet  him  from  the  town,  and  a  sim- 
ilar number  from  the  islands,  for  the  purpose  of  depre- 
cating his  wrath ;  but  they  were  instantly  seized  and 
placed  in  irons.  In  the  mean  while  he  ordered  a  vast 
platform  to  be  erected  near  the  residence  which  had 
been  prepared  for  him,  and  caused  it  to  be  made 
known  in  the  city  that  on  the  31st  of  December  he 
would  preside  over  a  tribunal  before  which  the  whole 
of  the  inhabitants  were  summoned  to  appear ;  and  on 
that  day  he  accordingly  made  his  entrance  into  the 
town,  preceded  by  the  manacled  deputies ;  while  the 
whole  population,  to  whom  it  had  been  forbidden  to 
cross  his  path,  to  ring  their  bells,  or  in  any  other  way 
to  recognise  his  arrival,  crowded  the  churches,  where, 
by  prayers  and  processions,  they  implored  the  Al- 
mighty to  deliver  them  from  a  destruction  which  ap- 
peared inevitable. 

At  one  o'clock,  Francis,  in  his  royal  robes,  ascended 
the  throne  which  occupied  the  centre  of  the  platform, 
surrounded  by  the  Princes  and  great  officers  of  state; 
and  there  he  summoned  the  advocates  of  the  rebels, 
who  declared,  that,  far  from  seeking  to  justify  their  dis- 
obedience, the  burghers  of  the  city,  and  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  island,  were  alike  anxious  to  confess  their 
Vol..  III.— 17 


258  Reign  of 

error,  and  to  implore  the  clemency  of  their  offended 
monarch.  This  short  but  pithy  address  was  barely 
concluded,  when  the  whole  population  who  were  col- 
lected at  the  foot  of  the  platform,  throwing  themselves 
on  their  knees,  with  bare  heads  and  outstretched 
hands,  joined  in  a  shrill,  wild,  thrilling  cry  for  mercy. 

It  was  a  grand  moment  for  Francis — one  which  en- 
abled him  to  perform  an  act  worthy  of  the  crown  he 
wore ;  and  to  his  eternal  honour  be  it  recorded,  that  he 
did  not  suffer  it  to  escape  him.  Waving  his  hand  with 
a  quiet  dignity  which  at  once  silenced  the  agonized 
crowd,  he  looked  around  him  with  an  expression  of 
reproachful  sadness,  in  which  there  was  no  vestige  of 
severity. 

"  Rise !  men  of  La  Rochelle,  and  of  the  Isles,"  he 
said,  in  a  low  but  distinct  tone ;  "  rise.  You  are  par- 
doned. You  have  recognised  your  crime,  and  I  will 
not  punish  you  for  a  treason  of  which  you  have  already 
repented.  Resume  your  privileges,  and  receive  back 
your  deputies.  The  royal  troops  shall  be  withdrawn 
from  your  city;  your  arms  shall  be  restored  to  you; 
and  all  that  I  ask  from  you  in  return  is  to  be  loyal  and 
faithful  to  a  sovereign  who  knows  how  to  forgive. 
Your  persons  and  your  property  shall  alike  be  re- 
spected ;  nor  will  I  act  towards  you  as  a  neighbouring 
monarch  acted  only  a  short  while  since  towards  the 
revolted  citizens  of  Ghent ;  for  I  love  mercy  more  than 
justice,  and  the  affection  of  my  subjects  better  than 
their  confiscated  wealth.  Nay  more,  to  convince  you 
of  my  willingness  to  forget  the  past,  I  will  this  evening 
sup  with  your  magistrates,  and  be  served  and  guarded 
only  by  your  citizens." 


Francis  I 


259 


The  scene  must  have  been  an  impressive  one.  For 
an  instant  the  immense  and  closely-packed  crowd  re- 
mained motionless  and  silent;  then  another  cry, — the 
cry  of  relieved  and  grateful  hearts, — went  up  to  heaven ; 
and  ere  long  numerous  individuals  detached  them- 
selves from  the  mass,  and  disappeared.  In  a  few  min- 
utes every  belfry  in  the  city  gave  forth  its  peal,  a  sound 
unheard  during  the  last  three  days ;  the  H6tel-de-Ville 
was  brilliantly  illuminated  in  honour  of  the  King's 
visit ;  murmurs  of  happiness  resounded  on  every  side ; 
the  soldiers  and  the  citizens  pledged  each  other  in 
brotherly  amity;  and  Francis  was  thenceforward  se- 
cure of  the  loyalty  of  La  Rochelle. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Francis  Persecutes  the  Lutherans — He  Despatches  an  Am- 
bassador to  the  Sultan — The  French  Army  Marches  North- 
ward— D'Annebaut  Takes  Landrecies — The  French  Besiege 
Binche — The  Dauphin  is  Compelled  to  Raise  the  Siege — 
Francis  Fortifies  Landrecies — The  French  Court  Arrive  at 
Rheims — Charles  V.  Effects  a  Rupture  between  England  and 
France — The  Emperor  Organizes  a  New  Army — He  At- 
tacks Dueren — The  Citizens  Refuse  to  Surrender — The  City 
is  Taken  by  Assault — The  Due  de  Cleves  Throws  Himself 
on  the  Mercy  of  the  Emperor — He  is  Restored  to  the  Im- 
perial Favour — The  Marriage  of  the  Due  de  Cleves  and 
Jeanne  de  Navarre  is  Annulled — The  Emperor  Besieges 
Luxembourg — He  Raises  the  Siege,  and  Establishes  a  Block- 
ade— The  Imperialists  Take  Cambray,  and  Establish  Their 
Winter-quarters  at  Guise — Solyman  Despatches  a  Fleet 
under  Barbarossa  to  the  Assistance  of  Francis — The  Count 
d'Enghien  Takes  the  Command  of  the  War  Galleys  at  Mar- 
seilles— The  Combined  Fleets  Attack  Nice,  and  are  Repulsed 
— d'Enghien  Returns  to  Landrecies — The  European  Powers 
are  Indignant  at  the  Alliance  Formed  by  Francis  with  the 
Turks — Enormities  Perpetrated  by  Barbarossa — Termination 
of  the  Campaign  of  1543. 


THE  bright  page  with  which  our  last  chapter  con- 
cluded was  the  last  which  we  are  fated  to  turn 
in  the  history  of  Francis  I. ;  for,  as  his  malady  gained 
upon  him,  he  became  a  prey  to  superstition  of  the 

260 


Francis  I  261 

grossest  description ;  and  even  while  he  clung  with  a 
tenacity  as  puerile  as  it  was  unyielding  to  the  follies 
and  ribaldry  of  a  court  which  had  become  the  proverb 
of  all  Europe,  he  believed  that  he  could  take  Heaven 
by  storm  through  the  persecution  of  the  Lutherans. 
On  the  30th  of  August,  1542,  he  issued  an  edict,  by 
which  he  enjoined  the  national  parliaments,  "  with  all 
diligence,  and  in  precedence  of  all  other  business,  to 
proceed  vigorously,  and  without  delay,  against  those 
who  disobeyed  the  statutes  and  holy  decrees  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  in  order  that  justice,  punishment, 
correction,  and  demonstration  may  be  so  fully  and 
severely  administered,  that  the  example  may  be  a  last- 
ing one  to  others." 

This  public  proclamation  was  not,  however,  so  dan- 
gerous to  the  persecuted  Reformists  as  the  system  of 
espiannage  which  was  at  the  same  time  organized,  and 
by  which  the  curates  of  the  several  parishes  were  in- 
structed to  examine  vi^ith  caution  and  subtlety  all  the 
inhabitants  of  their  districts  whom  they  suspected  of 
heresy,  and  to  endeavour  to  lead  them  to  convict  them- 
selves ;  the  Parliament  of  Paris,  moreover,  fulminating 
the  most  severe  threats  against  the  vendors  of  ob- 
noxious books,  and  especially  the  "  Christian  Institu- 
tion "  of  Calvin. 

This  barbarous  policy  was  also,  undoubtedly,  dic- 
tated in  some  degree  by  the  fearful  position  in  which 
the  King  found  himself  placed  by  his  alliance  with 
Solyman,  which  had  excited  against  him  the  ire  of  all 
the  Christian  princes.  After  the  murder  of  Rincon,  he 
had  appointed  as  his  successor,  by  the  advice  of  Du 
Bellay,  a  certain  captain  of  infantry,  and  soldier  of 


262  Reign  of 

fortune,  named  Paulin  Iscalin  ;*  a  man  of  extraordi- 
nary nerve  and  capacity,  who  at  once  proceeded  to 
Constantinople  with  a  caution  which  enabled  him  to 
reach  that  city  unsuspected  by  the  spies  of  the  Em- 
peror. On  his  arrival,  however,  he  found  himself  be- 
set by  difficulties.  Charles  V.,  who  was  aware  of  the 
Sultan's  indignation  at  the  failure  of  Francis  during 
his  meditated  invasion  of  Italy,  had  profited  by  the 
circumstance  to  detach  him  still  further  from  the 
French  interests;  and  accordingly,  when  Iscalin  pre- 
sented himself  as  the  accredited  envoy  of  his  sov- 
ereign, he  refused  to  grant  him  an  audience,  alleging 
that,  as  he  had  lost  faith  in  his  master,  he  desired  no 
communication  with  him  upon  any  subject. 

The  zealous  agent  was  not,  however,  to  be  so  easily 
repulsed;  and,  while  he  abstained  for  a  time  from 
prosecuting  his  mission,  he  employed  himself  in  se- 
curing friends  about  the  court,  in  which  attempt  he 
proved  so  successful  that  he  at  length  ingratiated  him- 
self with  an  aga  of  the  Janissaries,  by  whose  influence 
he  obtained  the  desired  interview ;  when  he  so  skilfully 
ministered  alike  to  the  vanity  and  the  ambition  of 
Solyman,  while  he  plausibly  explained  all  the  motives 
by  which  Francis  had  been  induced  to  turn  his  arms 

•  Paulin  Iscalin  was  the  son  of  a  peasant  of  the  village  of  La  Garde, 
whose  personal  beauty  when  quite  a  boy  attracted  the  attention  of  a 
French  corporal,  as  he  was  gambolling  upon  the  threshold  of  his  father's 
cabin.  The  soldier,  struck  by  his  bold  and  manly  appearance,  at  once 
offered  to  adopt  him;  but,  poor  as  he  was,  the  honest  labourer  for  a 
long  time  refused  to  be  separated  from  his  child;  nor  was  it  until  the 
boy  himself,  dazzled  by  the  weapons  of  his  new  friend,  joined  his  en- 
treaties to  those  of  the  corporal,  that  the  father  at  length  consented  to 
permit  him  to  avail  himself  of  the  prospect  which  had  suddenly  opened 
upon  him.  His  courage  and  discipline  soon  enabled  him  to  rise  to  the 
grade  of  captain;  and  after  his  successful  mission  to  Solyman,  Francis 
I.  created  htm  Baron  de  la  Garde. 


Francis  I  263 

against  the  Low  Countries,  instead  of  prosecuting  his 
design  on  Piedmont,  that  the  Sultan  ultimately  de- 
clared himself  convinced,  and  ready  to  fulfil  all  the 
pledges  to  which  he  was  bound  by  the  treaty  that 
existed  between  them. 

Iscalin  then  urged  His  Highness  to  despatch  a  fleet 
to  Marseilles,  to  co-operate  with  that  of  the  French 
King;  and  Solyman,  to  whose  warlike  spirit  every 
period  of  inaction  was  a  pang,  at  once  consented  to 
send  Cheir-Eddyn  Barbarossa,  the  King  of  Algiers,  his 
own  high  admiral,  to  the  coast  of  Italy,  with  express 
orders  to  follow  the  counsels  of  his  Christian  colleague 
in  every  emergency.  Iscalin  next  attempted  to  en- 
gage the  Venetian  states  to  include  themselves  in  this 
alliance  against  the  power  of  the  Emperor,  but  the 
gold  of  Charles  proving  more  influential  than  any 
representations  which  he  could  offer,  he  was  unable 
to  effect  his  object. 

Meanwhile  the  campaign  of  1543  was  commenced, 
as  that  of  the  previous  year  had  already  been,  by  Von 
Rossem,  the  marechal  of  the  Due  de  Cleves.  The 
Duke  himself,  profiting  by  a  dense  fog,  had  in  the 
month  of  November  succeeded  in  retaking  Dueren; 
and  Von  Rossem,  on  the  24th  of  March,  followed  up 
this  advantage  by  defeating  the  imperialists  at  Sittard 
in  the  duchy  of  Juliers. 

This  event  at  once  determined  the  measures  of  Fran- 
cis, who  decided  upon  marching  his  whole  army  north- 
ward ;  but  at  the  same  time  instructed  Antoine,  Due 
de  Vendome,  who  had  recently  succeeded  to  that  title 
by  the  death  of  his  father,  to  throw  supplies  into  Terou- 
enne ;  while  d'Annebaut  was  ordered  to  attack  Avesnes. 


264  Reign  of 

This  he  did  with  so  much  vigour  that  the  town  was  on 
the  point  of  a  surrender,  when,  by  a  counter-order,  he 
was  recalled  to  undertake  the  siege  of  Landrecies,  The 
state  of  the  city  was,  however,  so  deplorable,  that,  al- 
though the  garrison  were  well  provided,  both  with 
ammunition  and  provisions,  they  no  sooner  learnt  the 
approach  of  the  enemy  than  they  determined  to  aban- 
don it ;  and  had  Francis  been  guided  by  the  advice  of 
Langei,  he  might  have  cut  off  their  retreat;  but,  in- 
stead of  making  them  prisoners,  he  allowed  them  time 
to  burn  down  the  fortifications,  and  the  spacious  maga- 
zines containing  their  stores,  and  to  make  their  escape 
to  the  forest  of  Mormaux,  where  they  were  beyond  his 
reach. 

D'Annebaut,  consequently,  only  took  possession  of 
a  waste  of  ruins ;  and  it  soon  became  evident  that  the 
King  had  arranged  no  fixed  plan  for  the  campaign ; 
as  the  Due  de  Vendome  had  scarcely  taken  the  town 
of  Bapaume,  and  ascertained  that  the  citadel  was  on 
the  point  of  capitulating,  than  he  was  recalled  in  his 
turn,  and  compelled  to  abandon  his  conquest  and  join 
the  main  army  at  Marolles,  a  league  beyond  Landrecies, 
Francis  having  hastily  resolved  upon  fortifying  that 
city,  and  being  anxious  to  cover  the  engineers  with  as 
formidable  a  force  as  he  could  assemble ;  but  in  order 
that  the  army  should  not  remain  altogether  inactive, 
he  authorized  the  Dauphin  to  possess  himself  of  the 
citadel  of  Emery,  the  towns  of  Barlemont  and  Mau- 
berge,  and  ultimately  to  attack  Binche.  In  the  first 
three  of  these  enterprises  the  Prince  succeeded;  and 
he  encountered  such  slight  resistance  at  Binche  that  he 
anticipated  equal  good  fortune ;  but,  although  the  town 


Francis  I  265 

yielded  with  facility,  the  citadel  resisted  with  a  perti- 
nacity by  which  he  was  soon  undeceived. 

Prepared  for  the  attack,  the  imperialists  had 
strengthened  the  garrison,  and  victualled  it  for  a 
siege ;  a  precaution  which  afforded  them  an  immense 
advantage  over  the  Dauphin,  whose  army  was  not  only 
a  small  one,  but  moreover  considerably  harassed,  and 
very  scantily  provided  with  provisions.  The  incessant 
fire  of  the  imperialists  meanwhile  told  fearfully  upon 
his  troops  ;  and  becoming  rapidly  aware  of  his  inability 
to  sustain  a  conflict  so  unequal,  he  applied  to  the  King 
both  for  supplies  and  a  reinforcement.  To  this  appeal, 
however,  Francis  replied  by  declaring  that  he  could 
not  weaken  the  defence  before  Landrecies  until  the 
fortifications  were  completed ;  and  that  the  Dauphin 
must  raise  the  siege  of  Binche  if  he  found  himself 
unable  to  prosecute  it  without  aid.  This  decision, 
against  which  there  was  no  appeal,  was  a  bitter  dis- 
appointment, not  only  to  the  Prince  himself,  but  also 
to  the  officers  under  his  command,  among  whom  was 
Gaspard  de  Coligny,  who  afterwards  fell  a  victim  in 
the  bloody  massacre  of  St.  Bartholomew. 

The  fortifications  of  Landrecies  were  no  sooner 
completed,  and  the  city  well  garrisoned,  than  Francis 
struck  his  camp,  abandoned  the  unimportant  places 
taken  by  his  son,  disbanded  a  portion  of  his  army,  and 
took  up  his  residence  at  Rheims ;  where,  in  order  to 
recompense  himself  for  his  late  exertions,  he  sum- 
moned the  ladies  of  his  court  to  join  him  ;  and  profiting 
by  a  temporary  return  of  strength,  and  relief  from  pain, 
once  more  divided  his  time  between  the  chase,  and  the 
society  of  the  bright  circle  which  he  had  collected 
about  him. 


266  Reign  of 

Nothing  in  the  ancient  city,  where  he  had  taken  up 
his  temporary  abode,  prophesied  an  early  and  inevi- 
table war  in  which  the  best  interests  of  the  whole  king- 
dom were  involved  ;  the  splendid  litters  of  the  two  royal 
favourites,  with  their  attendant  train  of  pages  and  foot- 
men, traversed  the  picturesque  streets,  exciting  the 
wonder  and  admiration  of  the  honest  burghers ;  groups 
of  magnificently  dressed  nobles  followed  in  their  wake  ; 
the  royal  guards  flaunted  their  white  plumes  in  the 
cathedral  square;  bands  of  musicians  disturbed  the 
silence  of  midnight ;  and  torches  flitted  like  meteors 
on  all  sides,  as  they  lighted  the  young  and  gay  upon 
their  errands  of  gallantry  and  debauch.  During  the 
day  the  horns  of  the  royal  hunt  re-echoed  through  the 
forest;  and  many  a  wondering  peasant  concealed  him- 
self in  the  underwood  as  the  gallant  train  swept  by, 
almost  persuaded  that  it  was  a  mere  vision  which  he 
beheld.  Every  moment  was  at  that  time  precious  to 
France ;  and  while  her  monarch  thus  suffered  them  to 
pass  unimproved,  his  more  prudent  enemy  was  render- 
ing each  subservient  to  his  interests. 

Previously  to  a  contemplated  progress  through  Italy, 
Germany,  and  the  Low  Countries,  for  the  purpose  of 
alienating  their  several  populations  from  the  interests 
of  Francis,  Charles  earnestly  endeavoured  once  more 
to  detach  Henry  VIII.  from  his  favourite  ally ;  and  he 
could  scarcely  have  made  the  attempt  at  a  more  fortu- 
nate juncture.  Enraged  at  the  invasion  of  his  terri- 
tories by  the  troops  under  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  the 
Scottish  King  resolved,  in  his  turn,  to  attack  the  Eng- 
lish ;  but  he  found  no  responsive  feeling  on  the  part 
of  his  subjects,  who  either  openly  resisted,  or  tacitly 


Francis  I  267 

disobeyed  all  his  orders,  an  insult  to  his  dignity  which 
he  resented  by  transferring  the  command  of  his  army 
to  Oliver  Sinclair,  whose  authority  the  Scottish  barons 
refused  to  recognise. 

A  second  and  unimportant  demonstration  on  the 
part  of  the  English,  before  which  his  own  troops  fled 
without  resistance,  leaving  many  of  their  principal  offi- 
cers in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  which,  moreover, 
involved  a  great  sacrifice  of  life,  completed  the  dis- 
comfiture of  the  unhappy  Prince ;  who,  yielding  with- 
out any  further  effort  to  his  fate,  fell  into  a  state  of 
hypochondriacism,  which  terminated  his  existence  on 
the  14th  of  December,  1542,  leaving  an  infant  daugh- 
ter, the  fair  and  unfortunate  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots, 
whom  Henry  VIII.  at  once  resolved  to  render  a  bond 
of  union  between  the  two  countries,  by  uniting  her  to 
his  own  son  and  successor. 

In  this  project  he  was,  however,  destined  to  be 
thwarted.  The  Dowager-Queen,  Marie  de  Guise,  was 
supported  by  all  the  national  nobility  in  her  desire  to 
secure  the  protection  of  France  against  the  pretensions 
of  Henry,  a  step  to  which  she  was  moreover  strongly 
urged  by  Bethune,  the  Cardinal  of  St.  Andrews ;  and 
she  accordingly  applied  to  Francis  for  protection,  who, 
without  hesitation,  furnished  her  with  troops  and 
money;  when  a  series  of  intrigues  on  both  sides  ex- 
cited such  ill  feeling  between  the  two  sovereigns  that 
the  English  King  readily  accepted  the  overtures  of 
Charles,  and  furnished  him  with  ten  thousand  men  as 
an  earnest  of  his  future  support. 

Although  the  army  of  Algiers  had  been  destroyed, 
the  Emperor  had  only  required  time  to  organize  a 


268  Reign  of 

second ;  and  this  the  supineness  of  Francis  enabled  him 
to  do.  From  Barcelona  he  had  proceeded  to  Genoa, 
where  he  was  met  by  Del  Guasto,  Pietro-Luigi  Far- 
nese,*  Fernando  Gonzaga,  and  Cosmo  de'  Medici, 
Duke  of  Florence ;  the  latter  of  whom  redeemed  from 
him  the  fortresses  of  Florence  and  Livourna,  at  the 
cost  of  two  hundred  thousand  golden  crowns.  Tow- 
ards the  close  of  June  he  had  a  conference  with  the 
Pope,  which  produced  no  political  results;  and  ulti- 
mately he  continued  his  route  to  Germany,  where  he 
immediately  commenced  his  operations  by  an  attack 
upon  the  Due  de  Cleves.  On  the  22d  of  August  he 
presented  himself  before  the  city  of  Dueren,  with  an 
overpowering  army,  consisting  of  thirty  thousand  foot 
soldiers,  and  four  thousand  cavalry,  under  the  banner 
of  the  Prince  of  Orange;  a  demonstration  for  which 
the  citizens  were  ill  prepared,  having  been  assured  by 
the  agents  of  Francis  that  the  Emperor  had  perished 
in  his  retreat  from  Algiers. 

The  imperial  heralds  who  summoned  them  to  sur- 
render, were  accordingly  treated  with  ridicule,  the 
garrison  declaring  that  they  did  not  recognise  the  som- 
mation  of  a  dead  enemy ;  a  sarcasm  which  so  irritated 
the  troops  that  they  immediately  opened  a  battery  and 
effected  a  breach  in  the  walls,  which  enabled  them  to 

*  Pietro  Luigi  Farnese  was  the  son  of  Paul  III.,  who  united  the  states 
of  Parma  and  Placenza,  and  erected  them  into  a  duchy  in  his  favour; 
creating  him  Lord  of  Nepi,  Due  de  Castro,  and  Standard-bearer  of 
the  Church.  In  1540  he  was  despatched  by  the  Pope  against  Perugia, 
which  had  revolted,  and  endeavoured  to  throw  off  the  papal  authority; 
and  having  taken  the  city,  he  devastated  all  the  adjacent  country,  and 
put  the  principal  citizens  to  death.  After  his  elevation  to  the  duchy, 
he  excited  the  enmity  of  the  nobility  by  his  assumption  and  arrogance; 
and  a  conspiracy  having  been  formed  against  him,  he  was  assassinated 
in  1547. 


Francis  I  269 

take  the  place  by  assault  on  the  26th.  Still  writhing 
under  the  taunt  with  which  their  heralds  had  been 
dismissed,  the  infuriated  soldiery  no  sooner  found 
themselves  masters  of  the  city,  than  they  indulged  in 
the  most  frightful  excesses.  They  were  aware  of  the 
declaration  of  the  Emperor,  that  he  would  so  revenge 
himself  upon  the  Due  de  Cleves,  that  he  would  not 
leave  one  stone  upon  another  in  any  of  his  fortresses ; 
and  they,  accordingly,  threw  off  all  restraint.  Not  a 
single  citizen  of  the  ill-fated  town  escaped :  neither  age 
nor  sex  afforded  protection  to  the  vanquished ;  and 
before  the  day  closed  no  soul  remained  alive,  save 
those  who  had  entered  the  breach. 

This  fatal  massacre  paralysed  the  other  cities  of  the 
duchy  ;  and  while  the  Due  de  Cleves  despatched  courier 
upon  courier  to  implore  the  aid  of  the  French  King, 
(who,  by  disbanding  his  army  while  Charles  was  aug- 
menting his  own,  had  rendered  himself  powerless,)  the 
imperialists  took  in  succession  Juliers  and  Ruremonde, 
neither  of  which  attempted  even  a  show  of  resistance ; 
and  Venloo,  which  surrendered  immediately  that  the 
enemy  appeared  before  its  gates.  Until  this  moment  the 
Duke  had  relied  upon  the  support  of  France  ;  but  now, 
as  he  saw  city  after  city  of  his  duchy  fall  into  the  power 
of  the  Emperor,  against  whom  he  was  utterly  unable  to 
contend  without  assistance,  he  resolved,  in  a  paroxysm 
of  despair,  to  throw  himself  at  the  feet  of  the  conqueror, 
and  implore  his  clemency.  After  considerable  dififi- 
culty  he  was  enabled  to  make  his  way  to  the  imperial 
presence,  and  to  explain  his  errand,  but  the  vengeance 
of  Charles  was  not  yet  satiated ;  and  he  was  suffered 
to  kneel  for  a  considerable  time  before  any  notice  was 


270  Reign  of 

vouchsafed  by  his  haughty  suzerain ;  nor  was  his  par- 
don ultimately  conceded  until  he  had  bound  himself 
to  renounce  the  reformed  religion ;  to  acknowledge 
himself  the  vassal  of  the  Emperor  and  the  King  of  the 
Romans ;  to  renounce  the  alliance  of  France ;  to  release 
the  population  of  the  duchy  of  Gueldres  from  their  oath 
of  allegiance  to  his  person ;  and,  finally,  to  transfer 
Von  Rossem  and  his  band  of  quasi-freebooters  to  the 
imperial  service.  To  these  conditions,  bitter  as  they 
were,  the  unfortunate  Prince  was  compelled  to  accede ; 
and,  in  consideration  of  his  obedience,  he  was  rein- 
stated by  Charles  in  his  sovereignty  of  the  duchy  of 
Juliers,  now  almost  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the  im- 
perialists. 

Throughout  the  whole  of  this  struggle,  Francis,  al- 
though unable  to  render  any  ellficient  aid  to  his  nephew 
and  ally,  had  never  ceased  to  give  him  assurances  of 
effectual  support,  and  in  order,  as  he  declared,  to  prove 
his  sincerity,  he  confided  the  hereditary  Princess  of 
Navarre,  his  bride,  to  the  care  of  Du  Bellay,  with  orders 
to  convey  her  to  her  husband ;  after  which,  having  at 
length  succeeded  in  assembling  a  strong  body  of 
troops,  he  entered  the  duchy  of  Luxembourg,  where 
he  retook  several  minor  cities,  and  ultimately  possessed 
himself  of  the  capital ;  whence  he  was  about  to  despatch 
a  force  of  ten  thousand  men  under  D'Annebaut  to  the 
support  of  the  Due  de  Cleves,  when  he  was  apprised 
that  the  latter  had  made  his  submission  to  the  Em- 
peror. 

This  intelHgence  at  the  same  time  reached  M.  du 
Bellay  and  Jeanne  de  Navarre,  who  had  already 
reached  Soisson;  and*  the  young   Princess   was  no 


Francis  I  271 

sooner  informed  of  the  fact  than  she  resolutely  refused 
to  proceed  beyond  that  city.  She  was  well  aware  that 
her  marriage  had  been  distasteful  to  both  her  parents ; 
and  young  though  she  was,  for  she  had  only  at  this 
period  attained  her  fourteenth  year,  she  had  retained 
memories  of  her  enforced  husband  by  no  means  agree- 
able to  her  own  tastes ;  and  thus  Guillaume  de  Cleves, 
the  brother  of  the  ill-used  Anne,  whom  the  English 
King  had  repudiated,  was  destined  to  meet  a  similar 
fate  at  the  hands  of  a  mere  girl,  Du  Bellay  remon- 
strated in  vain  ;  the  Princess  remained  firm  ;  and  when, 
enraged  by  her  opposition,  the  Duke  despatched  a 
herald-at-arms  to  Francis  to  demand  his  wife,  for 
whom  he  had  received  a  safe-conduct  from  the  Em- 
peror, he  had  the  additional  mortification  of  being  told 
that,  so  protected,  he  could  require  no  assistance  from 
the  monarch  of  France,  and  that  he  had  only  to  apply 
to  the  King  and  Queen  of  Navarre. 

As  we  have  already  stated.  Marguerite  and  her  hus- 
band availed  themselves  of  this  opportunity  to  annul 
the  marriage ;  and  the  hand  of  the  Princess  was  five 
years  subsequently  bestowed  upon  Antoine  de  Bour- 
bon, Due  de  Vendome ;  while  the  Due  de  Cleves  ob- 
tained that  of  a  daughter  of  Ferdinand,  King  of  the 
Romans. 

Contrary  to  the  advice  of  his  generals,  Francis  had 
determined  upon  fortifying  Luxembourg ;  and  having 
confided  the  command  of  that  city  to  the  Prince  de 
Melfi,*  he  retired  to  Coucy,  five  leagues  beyond  Laon ; 

*  The  Prince  de  Melfi  was  the  grandson  of  Giovanni  Caraccioli,  the 
secretary  of  Jeanne  ![.,  Queen  of  Naples,  in  whom  he  inspired  so  violent 
a  passion,  that,  not  contented  with  enriching  him,  she  made  him  Grand 
Conn&table  of  the  kingdom,  and  Due  de  MeUi.     In  1432,  however,  either 


272  Reign  of 

while  the  Emperor,  having  augmented  his  army  to 
fifty  thousand  men,  including  the  troops  furnished  by 
Henry  VIIL,  commenced  simultaneously  the  sieges 
of  Landrecies,  Guise,  and  Luxembourg;  the  former 
in  person,  and  those  of  the  latter  by  Fernando  Gonzaga 
and  Guillaume  de  Furstembourg,  who  had  abandoned 
the  cause  of  Francis  for  that  of  his  rival.  The  siege  of 
Luxembourg  was  continued  until  the  winter  was  far 
advanced ;  Gonzaga,  after  several  attempts,  renounced 
his  attack  on  Guise;  and  the  main  body  of  the  im- 
perialists concentrated  itself  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Landrecies.  The  great  strength  of  the  citadel  de- 
termined the  joint  governors,  M.  de  Lalande*  and  the 
Sieur  d'Esse,f  to  abandon  the  lower  quarter  of  the 
town,  which  from  its  defective  means  of  defence,  would, 
as  they  apprehended,  involve  considerable  difficulty, 

wearied  of  her  favourite,  or  dissatisfied  with  the  return  which  he  made 
for  her  munificence,  she  caused  hira  to  be  assassinated.  The  Prince 
bravely  defended  the  city  of  Melfi  against  M.  de  Lautrec,  until  compelled 
to  surrender,  together  with  his  wife  and  children.  The  whole  of  his 
cities  were  sacked,  his  property  destroyed,  and  himself  made  prisoner. 
The  Emperor,  having  refused  to  pay  his  ransom,  he  had  recourse  to 
Francis  I.,  by  whom  he  was  pardoned  and  liberated  at  great  cost.  He 
proved  worthy  of  the  favour  thus  accorded  to  him,  and  became  one  of 
the  most  zealous  and  trustworthy  of  the  King's  generals. 

*  M.  de  Lalande  was  a  veteran  officer  of  great  merit,  but  of  small 
fortune,  whose  courage  at  Landrecies  was  recompensed  by  Francis  with 
the  appointment  to  steward  of  his  household.  Owing  to  his  military 
rearing  and  warlike  habits,  the  courtiers  were  wont  to  declare  that  he 
carried  his  stafi  of  office  like  a  pike.  He  was  nevertheless  greatly  re- 
spected, although  he  never  attained  to  any  higher  grade,  from  the  fact 
of  his  obscure  birth. 

t  The  Sieur  d'Esse  was  the  descendant  of  a  noble  and  ancient  family, 
who  commenced  his  career  as  page  to  the  Sendchal  de  Poitou,  whom  he 
accompanied  to  Naples  when  his  master  went  thither  in  the  train  of 
Charles  VIII.  At  the  close  of  a  few  years  he  was  permitted  to  join  the 
army,  where  he  distinguished  himself  so  greatly  as  to  be  appointed  the 
lieutenant  of  the  King  at  Landrecies,  and,  for  his  gallant  conduct  during 
the  siege,  was  made  a  gentleman  of  the  Privy  Chamber.  He  was  also 
captain  of  a  company  of  fifty  men-at-arms,  and  a  knight  of  the  order 
of  St.  Michael. 


Francis  I  273 

while  it  promised  no  adequate  advantage;  and  the 
imperiahsts  no  sooner  became  aware  of  this  fact  than 
they  threw  a  strong  body  of  troops  into  the  vacated 
streets,  by  whom  the  garrison  were  so  much  harassed 
that  it  was  resolved  to  dislodge  them  at  any  sacrifice. 
The  skill  and  courage  evinced  by  both  officers  through- 
out this  enterprise  acted  so  powerfully  upon  the  men 
under  their  command  that  they  undertook  without  a 
murmur  the  most  threatening  enterprises.  Constant 
sallies  were  made  from  the  citadel  headed  by  one  or 
other  of  their  brave  and  adventurous  leaders  ;  and  these 
were  uniformly  so  well  conceived,  and  so  courageously 
executed,  that  they  succeeded  in  spiking  the  guns,  kill- 
ing the  miners,  and  fatiguing  the  troops  of  the  enemy, 
almost  without  intermission.  The  winter  had,  how- 
ever, set  in  with  great  severity,  and  the  garrison  were 
beginning  to  suffer  from  a  scarcity  of  food.  Their 
wine  and  beer  were  totally  exhausted,  and  the  troops, 
men  and  officers  alike,  were  reduced  to  a  half  ration 
of  bread. 

Aware  of  this  circumstance,  the  Emperor,  desisting 
from  all  further  attack,  contented  himself  with  blockad- 
ing the  city,  in  the  belief  that  he  should  soon  be  en- 
abled to  reduce  it  by  famine ;  but,  despite  the  vigilance 
of  his  spies,  Du  Bellay  by  a  clever  stratagem  contrived 
to  throw  in  abundant  supplies ;  and  at  the  same  time 
to  alarm  the  imperialists,  by  concealing  the  cattle  and 
sumpter-horses  in  the  centre  of  his  escort,  and  thus 
giving  it  the  appearance  of  a  dense  and  formidable 
body  of  cavalry.  Under  this  impression  the  Emperor, 
fearing  that  he  should  be  surrounded,  hastily  retired 
from  the  city,  a  movement  which  determined  the  fate 
Vol.  III.— 18 


274  Reign  of 

of  the  siege ;  and,  although  Francis  had  constantly 
assured  his  troops  that  he  ardently  desired  an  engage- 
ment, it  is  a  curious  and  inexplicable  fact,  that,  while 
the  two  armies  were  in  such  close  contact  that  constant 
skirmishes  took  place  between  the  out-lying  picquets, 
he  suffered  the  enemy  to  withdraw  without  molesta- 
tion ;  and,  in  his  turn,  made  a  night-retreat  to  Guise, 
where  he  took  up  his  winter-quarters. 

The  Emperor  had  not,  however,  wholly  lost  his  time, 
as  four  days  after  he  raised  the  siege  of  Landrecies  he 
took  possession  of  Cambray,  which  he  garrisoned,  and 
strengthened  by  the  erection  of  a  citadel  at  the  cost  of 
the  inhabitants;  silencing  their  murmurs  by  assuring 
them  that  he  did  so  solely  to  secure  the  safety  of  their 
city  in  the  event  of  any  molestation  from  the  French. 

Solyman  meanwhile  redeemed  his  word.  He  pur- 
sued his  conquests  in  Hungary,  and  took  Strigonia  and 
Alba ;  at  the  same  time  that  he  despatched  Barbarossa 
with  a  hundred  and  twelve  galleys,  forty  vessels  of  war, 
a  number  of  transports,  and  fourteen  thousand  fight- 
ing men,  to  join  the  fleet  of  the  French  King.  At 
Calabria  the  Moslem  admiral  cast  anchor,  and  having 
landed  a  considerable  body  of  troops  he  cut  down  the 
olive  trees,  vines,  and  palms,  and  carried  oflf  a  number 
of  the  peasantry,  whom  he  subsequently  sold  as  slaves ; 
he  then  burnt  down  the  city  of  Reggio,  which  had  been 
abandoned  by  its  inhabitants,  the  whole  of  whom  had 
fled  to  the  mountains.  His  appearance  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Tiber  next  spread  consternation  throughout 
Rome ;  but  this  was  allayed  by  Iscalin,  who  assured  the 
Cardinal  de  Carpi,  its  governor,  that  the  Turkish  allies 
of  his  master  would  respect  the  neutrality  of  the  Pope ; 


Francis    I  275 

and  on  the  5th  of  July  this  formidable  armament 
reached  the  shores  of  Provence  without  committing 
any  further  ravages  along  the  coast. 

It  would  appear  that  Francis,  even  although  he  had 
invited  the  co-operation  of  the  Infidels,  had  placed  but 
little  faith  in  their  advent ;  for  it  is  certain  that  instead 
of  preparing  a  fleet  whose  magnitude  might  have  in- 
spired them  with  respect,  and  placing  it  under  a  com- 
mander whose  age  and  experience  must  have  secured 
his  authority,  he  merely  despatched  to  Marseilles 
Frangois  de  Bourbon,  Comte  d'Enghien,*  then  in  his 
twenty-third  year,  at  the  head  of  twenty-two  galleys, 
with  a  few  hundred  men-at-arms,  and  with  a  sum  barely 
adequate  to  their  immediate  subsistence.  Undis- 
mayed, however,  by  this  circumstance,  discouraging  as 
it  was,  the  young  Prince,  who  was  eager  to  distinguish 
himself,  eagerly  acceded  to  a  proposition  which  was 
made  to  him  that  he  should  attempt  the  reduction  of 
the  citadel  of  Nice,  accompanied  by  an  assurance  that 
he  would  receive  support  from  within  the  walls.  In- 
experienced as  he  was,  however,  the  Comte  d'Enghien 
had  too  much  prudence  to  endanger  the  whole  of  his 
force ;  and,  apprehending  treachery,  he  resolved  to 
send  four  of  his  galleys  to  reconnoitre,  while  he  lay-to 
with  the  remainder  within  gunshot  of  the  shore.  The 
result  proved  the  sagacity  of  his  previsions ;  for  the 
four  galleys  had  no  sooner  rounded  a  small  headland 
behind  which  Doria  was  laying  in  ambush,  than  they 

♦The  Comte  d'Enghien,  the  son  of  Antoine  de  Bourbon,  King  of 
Navarre,  and  brother  to  the  Due  de  Vendome,  was  born  at  La  F^re, 
in  1519.  In  1543  he  took  the  city  of  Nice,  advanced  into  Piedmont,  and 
won  the  celebrated  victory  of  Cerisola  in  the  following  year.  He  be- 
came governor  of  Hainault,  Piedmont,  and  Languedoc;  and  was  killed 
in  action  in  1545. 


276  Reign  of 

were  attacked  by  an  overpowering  force,  and  he  was 
compelled  to  set  sail  with  the  remainder  of  his  fleet. 

When  Barbarossa  arrived  at  Marseilles,  and  saw  the 
insignificant  preparations  which  had  been  made  for 
the  campaign  in  which  he  was  called  upon  to  assist, 
his  rage  knew  no  bounds.  Bitterly  did  he  vituperate 
the  dogs  of  Christians  who  had  invited  a  great  fleet 
from  a  distant  country,  only  to  endanger  the  lives  of 
the  men  and  the  honour  of  their  leader,  by  requiring 
them  to  act  in  conjunction  with  a  handful  of  troops 
and  a  beardless  boy;  and  so  great  was  his  irritation, 
that  Iscalin  found  it  necessary  to  travel  post  to  Guise, 
in  order  to  urge  upon  the  King  the  expediency  of  for- 
warding an  immediate  reinforcement,  and  a  supply  of 
money  and  ammunition,  as  well  as  instructions  for  the 
commencement  of  the  campaign ;  the  Algerine  mon- 
arch having  threatened  that  should  the  summer  pass 
by  without  affording  him  an  opportunity  of  signalizing 
himself,  he  would  induce  the  Sultan  to  revenge  him 
upon  those  by  whom  he  had  been  deceived. 

Eager  to  pacify  his  dangerous  ally,  Francis  accord- 
ingly despatched  a  few  troops  with  Iscalin  to  strength- 
en the  fleet,  together  with  an  assurance  that  more 
should  follow  without  delay ;  and  instructed  the  Comte 
d'Enghien  to  make  an  immediate  attack  on  Nice.  This 
was  accordingly  done ;  and  on  the  loth  of  August  seven 
thousand  French  and  fifteen  thousand  Turks  appeared 
before  the  city.  After  some  difficulty  the  town  itself 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  besiegers,  not  being  suffi- 
ciently strong  to  resist  the  powerful  artillery  which 
was  brought  against  it;  but  the  victors  gained  little 
by  their  conquest,  as  the  inhabitants  had  removed  every 


Francis  I  277 

article  of  value  beyond  the  walls ;  while  the  citadel  re- 
sisted all  their  attempts,  its  natural  position,  together 
with  its  artificial  defences,  rendering  it  almost  im- 
pregnable. Moreover,  the  Comte  d'Enghien  had 
nearly  exhausted  both  his  provisions  and  his  ammuni- 
tion; while  the  citizens  of  Marseilles,  to  whom  he 
appealed  in  his  extremity,  refused  to  render  him  any 
assistance,  declaring  that  they  would  not,  even  infer- 
entially,  act  in  conjunction  with  the  enemies  of  Chris- 
tendom. 

In  this  emergency  the  Prince  had  no  other  alterna- 
tive than  to  apply  to  Barbarossa  himself,  humiliating 
as  he  could  not  but  feel  such  a  necessity  to  be ;  nor  did 
the  Infidel  ally  of  Francis  spare  him  one  drop  of  the 
bitter  draught  which  he  was  compelled  to  drain;  for 
already  indignant  at  a  defeat  which  he  had  not  antici- 
pated, the  exasperation  of  the  Turkish  admiral  in- 
creased to  such  a  degree,  that  he  openly  ridiculed  the 
pretensions  of  a  Christian  monarch  who  undertook  a 
war  when  he  was  unable  to  provide  his  troops  with 
powder  and  ball.  A  final  attempt  was  made,  however, 
with  the  assistance  of  the  ammunition  thus  procured, 
but  it  proved  as  abortive  as  those  by  which  it  had  been 
preceded ;  and  the  siege  was  accordingly  raised  on  the 
8th  of  September. 

Francis  had  the  less  cause  to  regret  this  result,  as 
Barbarossa  had,  immediately  upon  the  surrender  of 
the  town,  claimed  a  right  to  garrison  it  with  his  own 
troops,  upon  the  plea  that  they  were  its  real  captors ;  a 
claim  which  was  imperatively  denied  by  M.  d'Enghien, 
who  was  well  aware  that  although  the  city  was  com- 
paratively of  little  value  to  France,  there  was  not 


278  Reign  of 

another  port  on  the  northern  coast  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean so  valuable  to  the  Algerine  pirates,  from  the 
facility  which  it  afforded  of  extending  and  protecting 
their  depredations.  Moreover,  the  Count  was  in- 
formed that  the  Due  de  Savoie  and  the  Marquis  del 
Guasto  were  advancing  with  a  strong  force  in  aid  of 
the  town,  at  the  very  moment  when  he  became  con- 
vinced that  he  could  not  calculate  upon  the  good  faith 
of  his  discontented  colleague ;  and  the  unfortunate  city 
was  consequently  sacked,  and  then  fired ;  after  which 
the  Prince,  who  was  led  to  believe  that  a  general  en- 
gagement was  about  to  take  place  between  the  Em- 
peror and  his  own  sovereign  at  Landrecies,  marched 
his  troops  towards  that  citadel. 

This  ill-omened  and  unnatural  coalescence  with  the 
Infidels  was  destined  to  prove  fatal  to  the  French  King 
in  many  ways.  In  the  first  place,  nothing  had  been 
accomplished.  A  mighty  array  had  been  brought  be- 
fore a  single  stronghold,  and  had  signally  failed.  All 
Christendom  had  been  thrown  into  a  state  of  panic, 
when  a  handful  of  native  troops  might  have  achieved 
the  same  result.  The  last  possession  of  a  petty  and  un- 
offending sovereign  (that  sovereign  being  moreover  his 
own  uncle,  and  perfectly  independent  of  any  rupture 
between  himself  and  the  Emperor),  had  been  recklessly 
and  unjustly  attacked ;  and,  as  a  climax,  Francis  had 
been  so  much  alarmed  by  the  indignant  menaces  of 
the  Turkish  admiral,  and  so  much  wounded  by  his 
expressed  contempt  for  the  inefficiency  of  his  allies, 
which  he  persisted  in  attributing  to  their  poverty,  that 
he  could  not  venture  to  allow  him  to  return  to  Con- 
stantinople until  he  had  appeased  his  discontent. 


Francis  I  279 

Presents  were  consequently  despatched  to  Barba- 
rossa  and  his  officers  in  such  profusion,  that  these,  and 
the  maintenance  of  his  fleet  to  which  the  French  King 
was  pledged,  are  stated  to  have  cost  the  nation  the 
immense  sum  of  eight  hundred  thousand  crowns.  The 
port  of  Toulon  was,  moreover,  abandoned  to  the  Turk- 
ish fleet  for  the  winter;  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  the 
city  were  compelled  to  retire  beyond  the  walls,  in 
order  to  leave  the  town  free  for  the  occupancy  of  the 
Infidels.  Barbarossa  repaid  this  generosity  and  confi- 
dence in  the  manner  which  might  justly  have  been 
anticipated.  When  he  at  length  withdrew  in  his  turn, 
he  illustrated  his  departure  by  attacking  several  cities 
on  the  coast  of  Naples  and  Tuscany,  and  by  sacking 
and  depopulating  the  island  of  Lipari,  whose  inhabi- 
tants he  carried  into  slavery. 

The  relief  of  Nice  was  no  sooner  effected,  than  Del 
Guasto  returned  to  Piedmont,  where  the  strength  of 
his  army  enabled  him  ere  long  to  render  himself  master 
of  the  whole  of  the  open  country ;  while  M.  de  Bou- 
tieres,  from  want  of  troops,  was  compelled  to  remain 
inactive.  The  city  of  Montdovi  was  besieged,  and 
being  unable  to  withstand  the  forces  brought  against 
it,  was  constrained  to  capitulate,  on  the  understanding 
that  the  garrison  should  march  out  with  all  the  honours 
of  war,  carrying  with  them  their  property  and  ammu- 
nition. The  treaty  was,  however,  shamefully  violated, 
for  the  unfortunate  men  had  no  sooner  opened  their 
gates  than  they  were  put  to  the  sword.  After  this  act 
of  perfidious  cruelty,  the  insatiable  Marquis  next 
marched  against  Carignano,  where  he  was  again 
destined  to  prove  successful ;  and  De  Boutieres,  havmg 


28o  Reign  of 

received  a  reinforcement  of  nine  thousand  men,  ad- 
vanced into  the  north  of  Piedmont,  in  the  hope  of 
retrieving  his  reverses,  and  laid  siege  to  Ypres ;  which 
he  had  nearly  succeeded  in  taking  when  he  was  ap- 
prised that  he  was  superseded  in  his  command  by  the 
Comte  d'Enghien,  whom  the  King  had  recently  ap- 
pointed as  his  lieutenant  in  that  province ;  and  who, 
having  already  reached  Chiras,  had  sent  to  him  to 
demand  an  escort. 

This  was  an  affront  which  the  zealous  veteran,  who 
had  failed  rather  from  want  of  resources  than  from  any 
deficiency  of  courage  or  ability,  could  not  calmly 
brook;  and  he  accordingly  raised  the  siege,  and 
marched  his  whole  army  to  Chiras,  where  he  trans- 
ferred his  authority  to  the  Prince,  declaring  that  he 
wished  him  better  fortune  than  he  had  himself  experi- 
enced ;  nor  could  all  the  expostulations  of  the  Count 
induce  him  to  remain  at  his  post. 

"  It  has  been  considered  expedient  to  supersede  me 
in  my  command,"  he  said  bitterly,  "  and  to  place  the 
troops  who  have  fought  and  suffered  with  me  in  the 
hands  of  a  younger  general  than  myself.  My  path, 
therefore,  is  plain," 

On  the  following  morning  he  left  the  city ;  and  hav- 
ing retired  to  one  of  his  estates,  he  appeared  to  have 
foresworn  altogether  his  military  career.  But  Bou- 
tieres  was  as  generous  as  he  was  brave ;  and  it  was  not 
long  ere  at  the  battle  of  Cerisola  he  revenged  himself 
in  a  manner  worthy  of  his  high  character. 

The  indignation  of  all  the  Christian  Princes  was  at 
once  profound  and  legitimate.  An  indelible  disgrace 
had  fallen  upon  the  French  banners — they  had  been 


Francis  I  281 

unfurled  side  by  side  with  those  of  the  enemies  of  the 
Church ;  nor  had  Francis  even  hesitated  to  direct  his 
own  cousin  to  tread  the  deck  of  a  Turkish  corsair. 
Cities  had  been  burnt,  villages  ravaged,  countries  laid 
waste,  free  men  captured,  helpless  women  outraged, 
and  the  progress  of  civilization  retarded  by  his  selfish 
and  narrow-hearted  policy;  he  had  weakly  and  un- 
profitably  justified  the  enmity  of  the  Emperor,  and  had 
alienated  the  confidence  and  regard  of  all  who  had 
trusted  in  him.  The  blood  that  had  been  spilt,  the 
desolation  that  had  been  created,  and  the  enormous 
outlay  which  had  been  made,  had  availed  him  nothing ; 
and  with  an  exhausted  treasury,  diminished  popularity, 
and  general  distrust,  Francis  I.  terminated  the  cam- 
paign of  1543 ;  so  bright  in  prospect,  and  so  disastrous 
in  its  results. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Renewal  of  Hostilities — Financial  Embarrassments  of  Francis 
— Sale  of  Judicial  Offices — The  French  King  Raises  a  New 
Army — D'Enghien  Blockades  Carignano — Blaise  de  Mont- 
luc  Proceeds  to  Court  to  Demand  Supplies,  and  Permission 
to  Engage  the  Enemy — Successful  Eloquence  of  Montluc — 
Victory  of  Carignano — The  Citizens  of  Ast  Close  Their 
Gates  against  the  Imperialists — Mortification  of  Del  Guasto 
at  Milan — The  Jewelled  Watch — The  Emperor  and  Henry 
Vni.  Invade  France — Siege  of  St.  Dizier — Renewed  Treach- 
ery of  the  Duchesse  d'Etampes — St.  Dizier  Surrenders — 
Mutual  Distrust  of  Charles  V.  and  Henry  VIII. — The  Eng- 
lish King  Besieges  Boulogne  and  Montreuil — The  Two 
Potentates  Cease  to  Act  in  Concert — Charles  V.  Advances 
to  Chalons. 

THE  campaign  which  had  just  terminated,  despite 
the  blood  that  had  been  spilt,  the  treasure  that 
had  been  lavished,  and  the  panic  which  it  had  caused 
to  the  whole  of  Europe,  ended,  as  we  have  shown,  most 
unprofitably  for  both  parties;  and  had,  nevertheless, 
left  each  in  a  position  which  necessitated  a  renewed 
struggle.  Personal  animosity  was  so  interwoven  with 
national  policy  on  either  side,  that  a  reconciliation 
upon  equal  terms  had  long  been  hopeless ;  and  it  was 
evident  that  the  peace  of  Christendom  hinged  upon  that 
unequivocal  supremacy  of  one  or  the  other  sovereign 
which  was  yet  to  be  decided.     The  attitude  of  Charles 

282 


Francis  I  283 

V.  was  threatening.  He  had  surrounded  himself  by 
allies  all  more  or  less  powerful,  and  he  had  organized 
an  immense  army ;  while  Francis  had  made  enemies 
even  of  those  who  were  previously  devoted  to  his 
cause ;  and  although  the  legions  which  he  had  formed 
provided  a  strong  body  of  infantry,  his  treasury  was 
exhausted ;  and  the  undue  favour  he  evinced  to  his 
gendarmerie,  which  was  composed  entirely  of  men  of 
good  family,  gave  umbrage  to  his  foot  soldiers,  who, 
whatever  might  be  their  merit,  were  treated  with  com- 
parative neglect.  Aware  of  the  discontent  which  had 
been  thus  engendered,  but  still  influenced  too  entirely 
by  the  prestige  of  birth  to  renounce  so  fatal  an  error, 
the  King  placed  no  reliance  upon  these  latter  troops ; 
while  from  want  of  funds  he  was  unable  to  make  such 
levies  of  Swiss  and  German  soldiers  as  might  have  sup- 
plied their  place.  He  could  no  longer  raise  a  loan,  as 
the  merchants  who  had  formerly  advanced  money  to 
the  government,  having  been  unable  to  recover  it,  de- 
clined to  furnish  further  supplies ;  and  he  was  equally 
unable  to  impose  new  taxes,  the  country  being  already 
crushed  beneath  the  weight  of  those  which  had  been 
already  inflicted.  In  this  extremity  Francis  resolved 
to  create  a  number  of  new  judicial  offices,  which  were 
sold  at  an  exorbitant  rate,  without  regard  to  the  rank 
of  the  purchasers ;  and  were  eagerly  bought  up  by  the 
citizens,  who  by  such  means  acquired  augmented 
importance,  and  were  protected  from  many  abuses 
to  which  their  want  of  birth  had  hitherto  exposed 
them. 

Aware  that  the  failure  of  De  Boutieres  in  Piedmont 
had  arisen  entirely  from  his  want  of  suppHes,  although 


284  Reign  of 

unwilling  to  admit  such  a  conviction,  Francis  had  no 
sooner  completed  his  financial  arrangements  than  he 
raised  a  force  of  four  thousand  Gascons,  and  five  thou- 
sand Italians  and  Swiss,  levied  in  the  cantons  of  Berne 
and  Fribourg,  of  which  he  formed  an  army  for  the 
Comte  d'Enghien.  Nevertheless,  the  position  of  the 
Prince  was  an  onerous  one ;  his  youth  excited  the  jeal- 
ousy and  distrust  of  the  veteran  officers,  his  near  re- 
lationship to  the  King  discouraged  the  higher  nobility 
engaged  in  the  war,  whose  ambition  was  thus 
checked ;  and  the  extreme  severity  of  the  season  ren- 
dered every  manceuvre  at  once  hazardous  and  difficult. 
The  intensity  of  the  frost  was  so  great  that  the  wine 
became  frozen  in  the  barrels,  and  was  obliged  to  be 
broken  up  in  lumps,  and  sold  to  the  troops  by  weight. 
Everything,  in  short,  appeared  to  conspire  against  the 
new  general;  for  although  the  military  talents  of  De 
Boutieres  were  not  of  that  brilHant  description  which 
could  inspire  an  army  with  entire  confidence,  he  had 
nevertheless  so  endeared  himself  to  the  soldiery  that 
they  did  not  attempt  to  conceal  their  discontent  at  his 
departure. 

Soon,  however,  the  young  Prince  by  his  aflfabihty, 
his  firmness,  and  his  watchful  care  of  their  interests, 
succeeded  in  allaying  this  regret,  and  he  had  no  sooner 
taken  the  necessary  measures  to  ensure  the  safety  of 
the  few  fortresses  which  still  remained  in  the  hands 
of  the  French,  than  he  proceeded  to  blockade  Carig- 
nano,  in  the  hope  of  reducing  it  by  famine.  Since  its 
capture  Del  Guasto  had  repaired  the  fortifications  of 
the  city,  furnished  it  with  a  garrison  of  four  thousand 
men,  and  provided  it  with  ammunition  and  stores; 


Francis  I  285 

while  his  own  army  was  moreover  greatly  superior  to 
that  of  his  adversary.  He,  therefore,  no  sooner  per- 
ceived the  intention  of  the  Prince,  than  he  endeav- 
oured by  manoeuvring  in  the  vicinity  of  Carignano  to 
throw  in  additional  suppHes ;  after  which  he  designed 
to  pass  the  P6,  and  thus  cut  oflf  the  communication  of 
the  enemy  with  the  marquisate  of  Saluzzo,  whence 
they  derived  all  their  subsistence. 

Had  he  succeeded  in  this  attempt,  the  French  troops 
must  have  perished  from  famine,  as  they  would  have 
been  driven  back  upon  a  stretch  of  country  entirely 
devastated;  and  he  was  induced  to  believe  that  he 
should  ultimately  compel  them  to  this  measure,  on 
perceiving  that  d'Enghien  carefully  avoided  the  risk  of 
a  general  engagement. 

Such,  indeed,  was  the  fact.  The  parting  command 
of  the  King  having  been  that  the  Prince  should  avoid 
an  open  battle,  and  confine  himself  to  the  capture  of 
such  fortresses  as  he  might  be  able  to  reduce.  But 
ere  long  the  ardent  spirit  of  the  young  commander  re- 
volted against  this  enforced  supineness ;  a  long  arrear 
of  pay  was  due  to  his  troops,  who  complained  that, 
while  they  sufifered  all  the  privations  of  poverty,  they 
were  not  permitted  to  revenge  themselves  upon  the 
enemy;  and  the  taunts  of  the  imperialists,  who  be- 
lieved, or  affected  to  believe,  that  he  was  afraid  to  meet 
them,  rendered  him  equally  dissatisfied.  Early  in 
March,  therefore,  he  resolved  to  despatch  a  messenger 
to  the  monarch  to  represent  the  difficult  and  humiliat- 
ing nature  of  his  position,  and  to  entreat  the  royal 
permission  to  give  battle  to  the  opposing  army. 

The  Prince  was  fortunate  in  his  selection  of  an  en- 


286  Reign  of 

voy,  his  choice  having  fallen  upon  Blaise  de  Montluc,* 
a  veteran  Gascon,  no  less  remarkable  for  his  fearless 
frankness  than  for  his  daring  courage  and  the  exuber- 
ance of  his  animal  spirits. 

On  the  arrival  of  M.  de  Montluc  at  court,  Francis, 
after  having  read  his  despatches,  summoned  a  coun- 
cil at  which  he  desired  him  to  attend.  All  the  Princes 
and  great  ofKcers  of  state  were  present,  including  the 
Dauphin,  who  stood  behind  the  seat  of  the  King ;  the 
Comte  de  Saint-Pol  being  placed  on  his  right  hand, 
and  d'Annebaut  on  his  left.  The  circle  was  no  sooner 
formed  than  the  monarch  opened  the  proceedings  by 
addressing  the  anxious  envoy. 

"  Montluc,"  he  said,  "  you  will  return  without  delay 
to  Piedmont,  in  order  to  inform  M.  d'Enghien  of  the 
decision  at  which  I  and  my  council  have  arrived ;  and 
I  wish  you  to  hear  the  reasons  by  which  we  are  com- 
pelled to  refuse  his  request." 

The  Comte  de  Saint-Pol  then  entered  into  a  detail 
of  these  reasons,  urging  the  meditated  invasion  of 
Picardy  and  Champagne  by  the  Emperor  and  Henry 

•  Blaise  de  Lasseran-Masencomme,  Seigneur  de  Montluc,  was  de- 
scended from  a  branch  of  the  house  of  Montesquieu,  and  was  born 
about  the  year  1500.  He  entered  the  army  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  and 
was  knighted  in  1544.  He  distinguished  himself  on  several  important 
occasions;  at  Bicocca,  Pavia,  and  the  sieges  of  Perpignano,  and  Casal; 
and  was  appointed  governor  of  Montcalquier  and  Alba.  While  lieutenant 
of  the  King  at  Sienna,  he  defended  that  city  for  a  considerable  time 
against  the  imperialists,  and  only  surrendered  after  a  long  and  hopeless 
siege.  For  this  act  of  gallantry,  he  was  rewarded  by  the  order  of  St. 
Michael.  In  1558  he  became  colonel-general  of  the  French  infantry;  in 
1564  lieutenant-general  of  the  Government  of  Guienne;  and  throughout 
twenty  years  was  an  active  and  remorseless  persecutor  of  the  Calvinists. 
In  1574  he  was  created  Marechal  of  France;  and  three  years  subsequently 
he  expired  at  his  estate  of  Estillac  in  the  Agenois.  He  was  the  author 
of  a  work  entitled  Commentaires  d  I'exemple  de  Cesar,  which  Henry  IV. 
called  "the  Soldier's  Bible;"  and  of  some  curious  and  gossiping 
chronicles,  highly  illustrative  of  the  times. 


Francis  I  287 

VIII. ;  and  declaring  that  the  success  of  the  Prince, 
even  could  it  be  insured,  would  be  comparatively  un- 
important, while  his  defeat  would  involve  the  most 
serious  consequences,  and  might  even  tend  to  endan- 
ger the  safety  of  the  kingdom.  "  Rather,"  he  conclud- 
ed, "  let  us  abandon  Piedmont  altogether  than  incur 
so  useless  a  hazard ;  or,  if  we  deem  it  expedient  to  re- 
tain our  present  possessions  in  that  province,  let  us 
simply  act  on  the  defensive,  and  avoid  all  gratuitous 
contact  with  the  enemy." 

These  sentiments  were  echoed  by  d'Annebaut ;  and 
finally  all  the  members  of  the  council  expressed  the 
same  opinion. 

Meanwhile  the  excitable  and  eager  Montluc  had 
been  standing  first  upon  one  leg,  and  then  upon  the 
other,  quivering  with  impatience,  and  making  the  most 
hideous  grimaces  in  his  attempt  to  control  himself. 
At  length,  however,  his  forbearance  was  exhausted ; 
he  had  forgotten  even  the  presence  of  the  sovereign, 
and  was  about  to  speak  unbidden,  when  his  intention 
was  detected  by  the  Comte  de  Saint- Pol,  who,  with  an 
imperative  gesture,  whispered,  "  Gently,  gently." 
This  attracted  the  attention  of  Francis,  who  upon  wit- 
nessing the  contortions  of  the  rebuked  envoy  could 
not  restrain  a  smile.  In  an  instant,  however,  he  re- 
covered his  gravity,  and  once  more  addressing  the  dis- 
comfited soldier,  he  asked :  "  Have  you  perfectly  com- 
prehended, Montluc,  the  reasons  which  restrain  me 
from  complying  with  the  wishes  of  M.  d'Enghien  ?  " 

"  Perfectly,  Sire,"  was  the  ready  reply ;  ''  but  if  your 
Majesty  could  be  induced  to  allow  me  to  give  my 
opinion  upon  the  subject,  I  should  be  glad  to  do  so; 


288  Reign  of 

although  it  may  have  no  effect  either  upon  yourself 
or  your  council." 

"  Speak,  then,"  said  the  King  good-humouredly ; 
"  speak  freely,  and  we  will  hear  you." 

"  Then,  Sire,"  said  Montluc,  throwing  himself  into 
a  military  attitude,  which  however  he  did  not  long  re- 
tain, and  increasing  in  gesticulation  as  he  proceeded 
with  his  harangue,  "  I  will  not  trouble  your  Majesty 
with  a  lengthy  speech :  there  are  between  five  and  six 
thousand  of  my  countrymen  beyond  the  Alps,  all  good 
and  tried  soldiers,  who  are  eager  for  glory;  besides 
these  there  are  as  ruany  Swiss,  who  will  fight  for  you 
to  the  death  as  we  are  ready  to  do.  There,  then,  Sire 
are  nine  thousand  men  upon  whom  you  can  depend. 
We  will  lead  the  van ;  and  it  will  be  hard  if  we  are  not 
followed  by  the  Italians  and  Gryerians,  who  cannot 
fail  us  for  very  shame.  With  one  arm  tied  up  we 
should  beat  the  enemy ;  fancy,  therefore,  what  we  shall 
do  with  both  arms  free,  and  a  good  blade  in  our  right 
hand." 

"  Surely,  Sire,"  interposed  M.  de  Saint-Pol,  "  you 
will  not  suffer  yourself  to  be  influenced  by  the  rhap- 
sodies of  this  madman,  who  is  intent  only  upon  fight- 
ing, and  careless  of  the  consequences  which  such  an 
imprudence  may  involve?  Considerations  of  so  se- 
rious a  nature  as  this  are  too  important  for  the  heated 
brain  of  a  Gascon." 

The  enthusiasm  of  Montluc  had,  however,  produced 
its  effect ;  and  while  the  King  remained  for  a  moment 
silent,  the  Dauphin  continued  to  make  the  most  en- 
couraging gestures  to  the  envoy. 

D'Annebaut,  who,  with  the  quick  apprehension  of 


Francis  I  289 

a  courtier,  at  once  detected  the  hesitation  of  Francis, 
and  the  anxiety  of  the  Dauphin,  now  interposed  in  his 
turn :  "  Confess,  Sire,"  he  said,  "  that  the  energy  and 
good  faith  of  this  brave  captain  have  almost  induced 
you  to  v^aver  in  your  resolve.  God  alone  knows  what 
may  be  the  result,  should  you  decide  upon  allowing 
this  battle.  Take  my  advice,  therefore;  appeal  to 
Him ;  and  then  declare  your  final  resolution." 

Thus  adjured,  Francis  removed  his  plumed  cap,  and 
with  clasped  hands  and  upraised  eyes,  remained  for  a 
brief  interval  in  prayer ;  then,  throwing  his  cap  vehe- 
mently upon  the  table,  he  shouted :  "  Let  them  fight ! 
Let  them  fight !  " 

The  council  shortly  afterwards  broke  up ;  but  before 
the  King  retired  he  desired  Montluc  to  approach,  and 
graciously  laying  his  hand  upon  his  arm,  he  said  kind- 
ly :  "  On  your  return,  Montluc,  commend  me  to  my 
cousin  D'Enghien,  and  all  my  other  captains ;  and  tell 
them  that  if  I  have  yielded  to  their  wishes  in  opposition 
to  the  advice  of  my  most  trusty  councillors,  it  has  been 
because  I  have  a  firm  confidence  in  their  valour  and  dis- 
cretion, and  that  I  confidently  anticipate  a  victory." 

"  I  will  repeat  the  message  of  your  Majesty,  word 
by  word,"  exclaimed  the  blunt  soldier ;  "  and  those 
who  may  have  wavered  heretofore  will  become  brave 
when  they  hear  it." 

As  the  Comte  de  Saint-Pol  came  into  contact  with 
Montluc,  who  remained  stationary  until  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  council  had  preceded  him  from  the  hall,  he 
said  bitterly :  "  Montluc,  you  are  a  madman ;  and  you 
have  this  day  caused  either  a  great  gain,  or  a  great  loss 
to  your  country." 

Vol.  III.— 19 


290  Reign  of 

"  Have  patience,  my  good  lord,"  said  the  Gascon, 
too  much  elated  by  his  triumph  to  resent  the  uncourt- 
liness  of  the  address.  "  Make  yourself  easy ;  and  rely 
upon  it,  that  the  next  intelligence  which  you  receive 
from  Piedmont  will  be  that  we  have  fricasseed  the 
enemy,  and  have  nothing  left  to  do  but  to  make  a  meal 
of  them." 

Montluc  on  the  morrow  took  his  formal  leave  of  the 
King,  and  commenced  his  journey  back  to  Italy,  ac- 
companied by  a  crowd  of  the  young  courtiers,  who 
were  anxious  to  join  in  a  campaign  which  now  prom- 
ised them  both  excitement  and  renown;  and  among 
whom  were  scions  of  many  of  the  most  ancient  and 
noble  families  of  France.  He  was  shortly  afterwards 
followed  by  Du  Bellay,  whom  Francis  had  promised 
to  despatch  with  a  strong  reinforcement,  and  the  ar- 
rears of  pay  due  to  the  troops.  As  usual,  however,  he 
only  partially,  and  very  inadequately  redeemed  his 
pledge,  for  the  sum  thus  sent  amounted  only  to  forty- 
eight  thousand  crowns,  instead  of  the  three  hundred 
thousand  requisite  to  release  the  Prince  from  his  obli- 
gations towards  the  army ;  and  with  such  a  mere  hand- 
ful of  men,  that  they  barely  sufficed  to  furnish  him 
with  a  sufficient  escort  to  protect  him  upon  his  way. 

Disappointed  as  he  was,  M.  d'Enghien  would  not 
suffer  himself  to  be  discouraged.  Eager  to  meet  Del 
Guasto  upon  equal  terms,  he  borrowed  a  large  sum  of 
money  from  the  young  nobles  who  had  joined  his  ban- 
ner, and  commenced  paying  his  troops ;  who,  immedi- 
ately they  were  apprised  that  the  King  consented  to 
their  doing  battle  upon  the  enemy,  became  less  eager 
to  enforce  their  demands. 


Francis  I  291 

The  imperialist  general,  who  was  as  anxious  as  his 
adversary  for  an  engagement  which  must  decide  the 
fortune  of  the  campaign,  no  sooner  learnt  that  the 
French  were  preparing  for  open  hostilities,  than  de- 
claring that  he  would  soon  rid  Piedmont  of  their  pres- 
ence, he  began  his  march,  and  halting  before  Som- 
meriva,  which  was  garrisoned  only  by  a  very  small 
body  of  troops,  he  summoned  it  to  surrender.  In  re- 
ply, the  commandant  of  the  fortress  merely  desired  him 
to  survey  the  heights  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood, 
which  were  bristling  with  armed  men;  but  the  Mar- 
quis, who  from  the  previous  reluctance  of  M.  d'En- 
ghien  believed  that  he  had  little  to  fear,  nevertheless 
commenced  an  assault,  which  was,  however,  soon  si- 
lenced by  the  French  artillery. 

Had  d'Enghien  at  that  moment  availed  himself  of 
his  advantage,  and  instead  of  resting  satisfied  with  the 
preservation  of  Sommeriva,  followed  the  advice  of  his 
officers,  and  immediately  commenced  the  attack,  he 
must  have  totally  destroyed  the  body  of  troops  by 
whom  Del  Guasto  was  accompanied ;  as  it  was  subse- 
quently ascertained  that  a  large  portion  of  his  army 
were  at  a  considerable  distance  in  the  rear,  engaged 
in  the  extrication  of  the  guns  which  had  been  swamped 
in  a  morass.  Of  this  circumstance  the  French  were 
not,  however,  aware,  until  it  was  too  late ;  and  the 
Marquis,  anxious  to  defer  an  engagement  until  he  was 
joined  by  the  whole  of  his  troops,  profited  by  their  su- 
pineness  to  retire  to  Cerisola  for  the  night. 

Del  Guasto  had  no  sooner  retreated  than  the  Prince 
was  guilty  of  the  serious  error  of  abandoning  the 
heights,  which  had  hitherto  rendered  his  position  so 


V 


292  Reign  of 

advantageous ;  and  in  his  turn  retired  to  Carmagnola, 
leaving  two  hundred  horsemen  to  observe  the  move- 
ments of  the  enemy. 

It  would  appear  that  this  duty  was  entrusted  to  a 
very  inefficient  officer;  for  it  is  certain  that  when  on 
the  following  day  the  French  were  preparing  to  re- 
sume their  ground,  they  discovered  that  it  was  already 
occupied  by  the  imperialists,  who  had  drawn  up  their 
army  in  readiness  for  the  conffict,  and  who  were  at 
least  one-third  stronger  than  themselves.  The  morti- 
fication of  M.  d'Enghien  was  intense ;  aware  as  he  in- 
stantly became  that  his  own  imprudence  had  enabled 
Del  Guasto  to  obtain  this  advantage.  He  had  on  the 
previous  day  refused  to  attack  the  imperialists,  owing 
to  his  apprehension  that  the  exhaustion  of  his  troops, 
from  the  sudden  heat  of  the  weather,  would  militate 
against  their  success ;  but  he  had  confidently  calculated 
upon  resuming  his  position,  which  he  now  saw  wrested 
from  him.  Under  the  circumstances  he  had,  however, 
no  longer  an  alternative,  for  he  felt  that  should  he  fall 
back  once  more  upon  Carmagnola  his  army  would  be- 
come disheartened;  and  he  consequently  resolved  to 
attack  the  Marquis  at  Cerisola  on  the  following  day. 

The  brave  De  Boutieres  had  meanwhile  no  sooner 
ascertained  that  the  Prince  was  authorized  to  engage 
the  enemy,  than,  forgetting  his  personal  wrongs,  he 
rejoined  the  army,  and  was  put  in  command  of  the  van- 
guard ;  the  Prince  himself  headed  the  main  body ;  and 
Dampierre*  was  intrusted  with  the  rearguard;  while 

*  M.  de  Dampierre,  Seigneur  de  Clermont-Tonnerre,  was  the  repre- 
sentative of  an  illustrious  family  in  Dauphiny,  which  traced  its  descent 
from  the  nth  century;  and  the  head  of  whose  house  had,  until  recently, 
borne  the  title  of  Comte  de  Clermont  and  Dauphin  d'Auvergne. 


Francis  I  293 

Montluc,  who  always  coveted  a  post  of  danger,  was 
thrown  forward  with  a  body  of  three  thousand  harque- 
bussiers,  as  a  forlorn  hope,  to  meet  the  first  attack  of 
the  enemy. 

As  the  sun  rose,  the  hostile  armies  faced  each  other, 
and  the  engagement  commenced  by  a  skirmish  be- 
tween the  troops  of  the  Gascon  captain  and  a  corre- 
sponding force  of  imperialists,  which  lasted  from  dawn 
until  an  hour  before  mid-day ;  Del  Guasto  being  un- 
willing to  abandon  the  heights,  and  his  enemy  equally 
reluctant  to  attack  him  at  such  a  disadvantage.  It  was 
the  object  of  each  leader  to  take  the  other  in  flank, 
but  both  were  sufficiently  on  their  guard  to  render  this 
mancEuvre  impracticable.  The  gallantry  displayed  by 
Montluc  and  his  little  band  was  conspicuous ;  and  al- 
though from  their  exposed  position  many  among  them 
fell,  they  nevertheless  retained  their  ground,  and 
fought  bravely  until  the  very  close  of  the  engagement. 

At  length  the  two  main  bodies  came  to  a  charge, 
and  the  battle  became  general.  D'Enghien  through- 
out the  day  proved  himself  worthy  of  the  trust  which 
had  been  reposed  in  him ;  and  although,  as  Montluc 
had  evidently  foreseen,  the  Italians  proved  almost  use- 
less during  the  combat,  and  the  Gryerians  fairly  turned 
and  fled  without  striking  a  blow  when  they  saw  the 
enemy  with  Del  Guasto  approaching  to  charge  them, 
he  was  nevertheless  enabled  through  his  own  gallantry 
and  that  of  the  French  gendarmerie  to  break  through 
the  imperial  ranks,  and  to  force  them  back  upon  the 
neighbouring  forest  in  such  disorder,  that  they  were 
cut  to  pieces  on  their  retreat. 

The  Prince  of  Salerno  had  received  express  orders 


294  Reign  of 

from  the  Marquis  not  to  quit  the  post  assigned  to  him 
on  the  left  wing  of  the  imperiahsts,  nor  to  suffer  the 
division  tmder  his  command  to  take  any  part  in  the 
conflict  until  he  received  his  permission  to  do  so,  how- 
ever urgent  circumstances  might  appear;  and  he 
obeyed  these  directions  so  implicitly,  that  when  the 
tide  of  battle  had  carried  Del  Guasto  to  such  a  dis- 
tance that  he  was  unable  to  revoke  them,  he  remained 
perfectly  passive,  although  he  was  aware  that  his  co- 
operation must  have  enabled  the  main  body  to  rally, 
and  thus  possibly  have  changed  the  fortunes  of  the 
day;  nor  did  he  even  commence  his  retreat  until  he 
felt  that  further  delay  must  involve  his  own  safety  and 
that  of  his  troops ;  when  he  affected  the  manoeuvre  so 
skilfully  that  he  escaped  with  very  little  loss. 

Thus  a  victory  was  secured  to  d'Enghien,  for  which 
he  was  in  a  great  degree  indebted  to  the  injudicious 
measures  of  the  enemy,  but  it  was  purchased  by  the 
sacrifice  of  many  valuable  lives ;  two  of  his  own  equer- 
ries and  fifteen  of  his  noble  volunteers  having  perished 
during  the  charge;  a  casualty  which  was,  however, 
counterbalanced  by  the  fact  that  his  total  loss  of  rank 
and  file  amounted  only  to  two  hundred  men. 

The  imperialists  had,  meanwhile,  suffered  much 
more  severely.  Del  Guasto  was  himself  struck  in  the 
knee  by  a  musket-ball,  and  received  a  blow  upon  the 
head  from  a  mace  by  which  his  helmet  was  crushed ; 
and  he  found  himself  compelled  from  the  anguish  of 
his  wounds  to  quit  the  field,  and  make  the  best  of  his 
way  to  Ast,  with  a  troop  of  four  hundred  horse,  which 
were  all  that  remained  to  him.  The  repose  which  he 
so  greatly  needed,  he  was  not,  however,  fated  to  find 


Francis  I  295 

in  what  he  had  trusted  would  have  been  to  him  a  city 
of  refuge.  On  marching  from  Ast  to  encounter  the 
French  army,  he  had  arrogantly  authorized  the  citi- 
zens to  close  their  gates  against  him,  should  he  return 
otherwise  than  as  a  conqueror;  and  they  no  sooner 
saw  him  approaching  wounded  and  a  fugitive,  than 
they  obeyed  him  to  the  very  letter,  and  refused  to  ad- 
mit him  within  their  walls.  He  had,  consequently,  no 
alternative  save  to  proceed  to  Milan ;  where,  although 
shelter  was  conceded  to  him,  he  was  bitterly  taunted 
with  his  non-fulfilment  of  a  promise  which  he  had 
made  to  certain  of  the  Milanese  ladies,  that  he  would 
bring  the  young  French  nobles  who  had  joined  the 
banner  of  M.  d'Enghien  as  volunteers,  in  chains  to 
their  feet ;  a  vaunt  which  it  appeared  was  intended  to 
be  less  empty  than  those  in  which  he  usually  indulged ; 
as  it  is  asserted  by  more  than  one  historian  that  chains 
and  padlocks  were  found  in  considerable  numbers 
among  the  captured  baggage.  So  enraged,  moreover, 
were  the  population  of  Milan  by  a  defeat  for  which 
they  had  been  totally  unprepared,  that  during  his  re- 
covery he  found  it  expedient  to  live  in  close  retirement, 
as  he  was  pursued  through  the  streets,  whenever  he 
ventured  to  appear  in  public,  by  the  jeers  and  execra- 
tions of  the  mob;  and  the  clamorous  demands  of  an 
unhappy  class  of  females  for  the  handsome  young 
cavaHers  whom  he  had  promised  to  march  as  his  pris- 
oners into  their  city. 

These  indignities,  which  were  as  gall  and  worm- 
wood to  the  arrogant  spirit  of  the  Marquis,  sufficed  to 
fill  up  the  measure  of  his  mortification ;  for  never  was 
defeat  more  disastrous  than  his  own  at  Cerisola.     Ten 


296  Reign  of 

thousand  of  his  best  troops  had  fallen  during  the  bat- 
tle; the  whole  of  his  artillery,  ammunition,  and  bag- 
gage had  become  the  prey  of  the  enemy,  as  well  as  four 
thousand  prisoners,  among  whom  were  several  of  his 
best  officers.  The  costly  armour,  ponderous  plate, 
and  bulky  treasure-chest  by  which  he  was  always  ac- 
companied to  the  field,  and  which  amounted  in  value  to 
upwards  of  three  hundred  thousand  crowns,  shared  the 
same  fate ;  while  the  city  of  Carignano,  and  the  whole 
Marquisate  of  Montferrat,  with  the  exception  of  Casal, 
were  retaken  by  M.  d'Enghien. 

At  this  period,  had  the  French  King  responded  to 
the  entreaties  of  the  Prince,  and  furnished  him  with  a 
sufficient  reinforcement,  the  Milanese  must  inevitably 
have  fallen  into  his  power ;  but  the  league  into  which 
the  Emperor  had  entered  with  Henry  VIII.,  and  their 
meditated  descent  upon  France,  rendered  him  not  only 
unable  to  do  so,  but  compelled  him  moreover  to  with- 
draw a  force  of  twelve  thousand  men  from  the  vic- 
torious army,  for  the  defence  of  his  own  kingdom ;  a 
circumstance  which  decided  the  Comte  d'Enghien  to 
consent  to  a  truce  for  three  months,  which  was  pro- 
posed by  Del  Guasto.  This  had  no  sooner  been  rati- 
fied by  their  respective  sovereigns,  than  the  French 
Prince  reluctantly  retired  from  Piedmont,  and,  after 
having  strongly  fortified  all  the  fortresses  of  which  he 
had  possessed  himself,  marched  his  army  back  to 
France ;  while  the  imperialist  general  proceeded  tow- 
ards the  frontiers  of  Picardy  and  Champagne,  to  assist 
in  the  attack  which  Charles  was  about  to  make  upon 
those  provinces. 

By  the  messenger  whom  he  despatched  to  the  court 


Francis  I  297 

to  request  supplies,  M.  d'Enghien  forwarded  to  his 
sister,  the  Duchesse  de  Nevers,*  a  superb  watch  which 
had  been  found  in  the  tent  of  the  Marquis,  with  direc- 
tions to  present  it  to  the  King ;  a  commission  of  which 
she  gracefully  acquitted  herself,  in  the  presence  of  the 
assembled  courtiers. 

"  Sire,"  she  said,  as  bending  upon  one  knee  she 
tendered  to  him  the  costly  trinket  upon  a  small  cushion 
of  crimson  velvet,  "  my  brother  d'Enghien  having  been 
unable  to  send  you  the  Marquis  del  Guasto,  thanks 
to  the  fleetness  of  his  good  horse,  ventures  to  offer  to 
you  the  watch  of  the  fugitive  imperialist ;  which,  al- 
though perhaps  in  point  of  fact  as  valuable  as  its  owner, 
did  not  chance  to  be  so  well  mounted." 

"  I  thank  my  good  and  brave  cousin  and  lieutenant 
for  the  courtesy,  Madame,"  replied  the  King,  as  he 
accepted  the  jewel,  and  at  the  same  time  raised  the 
Duchess  from  her  kneeling  position ;  "  and  yourself 
no  less.  And  I  shall  greatly  value  the  offering,  not 
only  as  a  memorial  of  his  valour,  but  also  of  your  own 
wit  and  beauty." 

Throughout  the  whole  of  that  evening,  the  mot  of 
Madame  de  Nevers  afforded  more  conversation  than 
the  manoeuvres  of  her  successful  kinsman. 

Nevertheless,  the  period  was  not  one  for  idle  jesting 

♦Marguerite  de  Bourbon,  the  sister  of  Antoine  de  Bourbon,  Due  de 
Vendome,  afterwards  King  of  Navarre,  of  Francois  de  Bourbon,  Comte 
d'Enghien,  and  of  Louis,  Prince  de  Conde,  was  the  wife  of  Francois  de 
Cleves,  Due  de  Nevers ;  who,  at  the  age  of  five  years,  succeeded  his 
father  in  the  sovereignty  of  the  counties  of  Auxerre,  Nevers,  Eu,  and 
RhSte),  which  had  belonged  to  his  family  since  the  commencement  of 
the  fourteenth  century.  In  1538  he  had  been  created  Duke  and  peer  of 
France  by  Francis  I.;  and  under  the  reign  of  his  successor  he  was 
appointed  governor  of  Champagne,  Brie,  and  Luxembourg.  On  his 
death  in  1562,  he  left  six  children  by  his  wife  Marguerite  de  Bourbon. 


298  Reign  of 

or  empty  frivolity.  France  was  threatened  to  her  very 
core.  The  Emperor  and  the  King  of  England  had 
assembled  a  strong  army  upon  the  Rhine  for  the  capt- 
ure of  Paris,  which  they  had  resolved  to  sack ;  and 
afterwards  to  lay  the  whole  country  waste  to  the  banks 
of  the  Loire.  The  avowed  object  of  the  treaty  into 
which  they  had  entered  was  the  entire  conquest,  and 
subsequent  partition,  of  the  kingdom  between  them- 
selves ;  and  they  had  even  calculated  with  such  security 
on  success,  that  Normandy  and  Guyenne,  with  the  title 
of  King  of  France,  were  by  the  said  treaty  guaranteed 
to  Henry,  while  Charles  was  to  inherit  the  duchy  of 
Burgundy  and  the  northern  provinces  watered  by  the 
Somme. 

The  army  with  which  Francis  proposed  to  repel  this 
threatened  invasion  was  intrusted  to  the  Dauphin  and 
d'Annebaut,  but  with  the  usual  reservation  that  they 
should  encamp  on  the  banks  of  the  Marne,  and  keep- 
ing that  river  between  their  own  forces  and  those  of 
the  Emperor,  dispute  the  passage  whenever  it  should 
be  attempted;  avoiding  at  all  hazards  a  general  en- 
gagement. Unfortunately  for  the  King,  he  could  not 
at  this  juncture  calculate  upon  the  slightest  assistance 
from  without,  his  allies  having  indignantly  abandoned 
him  from  the  moment  that  the  fleet  of  Barbarossa  had 
anchored  off  the  coast  of  Provence ;  while  their  indig- 
nation had  been  still  further  excited  by  the  outrages 
committed  by  the  Turkish  admiral  on  his  departure 
from  Toulon ;  when,  not  content  with  devastating  the 
surrounding  country  for  the  purpose  of  victualling  his 
ships  for  their  homeward  voyage,  he  availed  himself  of 
the  opportunity  to  carry  off  a  number  of  the  criminals 


Francis  I  299 

from  the  arsenal  to  man  his  galleys ;  and  some  of  the 
handsomest  women  of  the  province  for  his  harem. 
Thus  Francis  could  not  venture  to  recall  his  Infidel 
allies  even  in  the  present  perilous  emergency ;  the 
hatred  which  they  had  engendered  towards  him,  and 
the  enormities  of  which  they  had  been  guilty  even  upon 
his  own  territories,  having  convinced  him  of  the  seri- 
ousness of  his  previous  error. 

The  invading  armies  consisted  of  eighty  thousand 
infantry  and  two  thousand  horse ;  and  it  had  been 
agreed  between  the  allied  sovereigns  that  they  should 
advance  simultaneously  upon  Paris,  without  lingering 
by  the  way  to  lay  siege  to  any  of  the  intervening  cities. 
Had  they  pursued  this  course  they  must  at  once  have 
made  themselves  masters  of  the  capital,  where  a  panic 
terror  and  a  great  scarcity  of  troops  would  have  ren- 
dered it  impossible  to  ofifer  any  effectual  resistance ; 
but  so  great  a  jealousy  still  existed  between  the  two 
allied  potentates,  that  instead  of  honestly  fulfilling  the 
stipulations  of  their  mutual  contract,  each  determined 
to  possess  himself  of  the  several  fortresses  which  lay 
upon  his  route ;  and  thus  the  unity  of  their  action  was 
destroyed. 

Henry  VHI.  landed  at  Calais,  accompanied  by  the 
Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  an  army  of  thirty  thousand  men, 
with  the  pomp  of  a  conqueror  rather  than  the  prudence 
of  an  invading  general ;  and  he  was  joined  upon  his 
arrival  in  that  port  by  a  force  of  fifteen  thousand  im- 
perialists under  De  Buren  and  De  Roeux,  who  were 
to  act  in  conjunction  with  his  own  troops.  The  Em- 
peror meanwhile  pressed  forward  towards  Champagne, 
whither  Francis,  who  considered  him  the  more  formi- 


300  Reign  of 

dable  enemy  of  the  two,  had,  as  we  have  shown, 
despatched  the  main  body  of  his  army;  taking  no 
further  precaution  against  the  EngHsh  King  than  that 
of  fortifying  Boulogne  and  the  other  important  for- 
tresses of  Picardy. 

Charles  commenced  his  operations  by  the  siege  of 
Luxembourg,  which,  contrary  to  the  anticipations  of 
the  King,  capitulated  almost  immediately ;  the  garrison 
having  suffered  from  famine  throughout  the  whole  of 
the  preceding  winter,  and  being  reduced  to  a  state  of 
exhaustion  which  rendered  them  unable  to  oppose  his 
attack.  He  then  continued  his  onward  march,  making 
himself  master,  as  he  advanced,  of  the  citadels  of  Com- 
merey  on  the  Meuse,  Ligny,  and  Brienne ;  after  which, 
crossing  the  frontier  of  Champagne,  he  halted  before 
St.  Dizier,  a  place  of  great  importance,  inasmuch  as  it 
commanded  the  passage  of  the  river. 

Aware  that  its  garrison  was  insignificant  in  number, 
its  outworks  very  imperfectly  fortified,  and  its  position 
unfavourable  for  defence,  Charles  anticipated  as  easy 
a  conquest  of  this  city  as  that  to  which  he  had  looked 
forward  at  Luxembourg.  He  was,  however,  fated  to 
disappointment,  the  command  having  been  confided 
to  Louis  de  Beuil,  Comte  de  Sancerre,  the  lieutenant 
of  the  Due  d'Orleans,  and  to  M.  de  Lalande,  who  had 
so  greatly  distinguished  himself  during  the  preceding 
year  at  the  defence  of  Landrecies ;  and  who,  upon  re- 
ceiving a  summons  from  the  Emperor  to  surrender, 
replied  by  assuring  him  that  there  was  not  one  traitor 
within  the  walls,  and  that  if  he  coveted  the  place  he 
must  win  it  at  the  sword's  point. 

Irritated  by  this  defiance,  Charles  V.  at  once  sat 


Francis  I  301 

down  before  the  city,  angry  at  an  impediment  which 
he  considered  gratuitous,  and  beheving  from  day  to 
day  that  the  morrow  must  witness  its  reduction.  Con- 
trary, however,  not  only  to  his  own  expectations,  but 
to  those  of  Francis  himself,  the  town  resisted,  despite 
all  its  disadvantages,  for  the  space  of  six  weeks ;  during 
which  time  the  garrison  not  only  thwarted  the  opera- 
tions of  the  imperialists,  by  continual  sorties,  but  even 
sustained  an  assault  which  lasted  for  seven  hours,  and 
cost  the  Emperor  the  lives  of  eight  hundred  of  his  best 
troops ;  while  the  remainder  of  his  forces  retreated  in 
such  disorder  that  they  abandoned  a  great  quantity  of 
powder,  which  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  French.  The 
loss  on  the  side  of  the  garrison  did  not  amount  to  more 
than  forty  gendarmes  and  two  hundred  infantry;  but 
the  Comte  de  Sancerre  was  grievously  wounded  in  the 
face  by  the  fragments  of  his  sword,  which  was  shivered 
by  a  shot.  On  the  following  day  the  Emperor  sent  a 
herald  to  Sancerre,  to  offer  him  honourable  terms  if 
he  would  consent  to  capitulate ;  but  the  French  general, 
who  was  aware  of  the  importance  of  delaying  the 
march  of  the  enemy  towards  Paris,  refused  to  admit 
the  envoy  within  the  walls,  and  declared  his  intention 
of  still  holding  the  city. 

Convinced  by  this  reply  that  he  should  obtain  noth- 
ing from  the  fears  of  the  Count,  and  irritated  by  the  loss 
of  life  which  had  already  ensued,  Charles  resolved  to 
starve  out  the  garrison,  which  he  was  aware  was  al- 
ready driven  to  great  straits  both  for  food  and  ammu- 
nition ;  and  he  consequently  remained  passively  in  his 
camp,  awaiting  the  result  of  this  determination.  A 
few  days  subsequently  a  drummer  was  despatched  from 


302  Reign  of 

the  beleaguered  city  to  propose  the  exchange  of  some 
prisoners ;  and  he  had  no  sooner  delivered  his  message 
and  left  the  enemy's  lines,  than  a  stranger,  with  an 
apparent  want  of  caution  which  disarmed  suspicion, 
jostled  him  on  his  path,  and  at  the  same  time  thrust  a 
sealed  packet  into  his  hand,  which  he  hurriedly  in- 
formed him  he  had  received  from  the  Due  de  Guise, 
and  was  waiting  an  opportunity  to  convey  to  the  Comte 
de  Sancerre.  A  look  of  intelligence  was  then  ex- 
changed between  the  two  men ;  and  in  a  few  moments 
the  mysterious  packet  was  delivered.  The  letter  was 
written  in  the  cypher  adopted  by  the  Duke,  of  which 
M.  de  Sancerre  had  the  key;  and  so  much  was  he 
astonished  at  the  nature  of  its  contents,  that  he  at  once 
called  a  council,  and  read  it  aloud. 

In  this  missive  Sancerre  was  enjoined  to  surrender 
the  garrison  upon  the  best  terms  he  could  make  with 
the  Emperor,  and  that  with  all  possible  despatch,  as 
it  was  found  impossible  to  introduce  either  men  or  pro- 
visions into  the  city.  Many  of  the  officers  entreated 
their  commandant  to  disregard  an  order,  which  had 
merely  emanated  from  the  governor,  and  not  from  the 
King  himself,  alleging  that  they  could  but  surrender 
when  their  means  of  subsistence  and  defence  were 
utterly  exhausted,  and  that  meanwhile  they  were  doing 
their  sovereign  good  service  by  checking  the  onward 
march  of  the  enemy.  The  majority,  however,  had  be- 
come disheartened  by  the  privations  and  suflfering 
which  they  had  already  endured,  and  strongly  urged 
De  Sancerre  to  immediate  obedience.  Yet,  for  a  time, 
the  Count  still  hesitated ;  until  his  duty  as  a  soldier  at 
length  overcame  his  pride  as  a  man,  and  he  consented 


Francis  I  303 

to  follow  the  directions  of  his  superior  officer.  He 
therefore  despatched  in  his  turn  a  herald  to  the  im- 
perial camp,  demanding  to  know  upon  what  conditions 
he  would  be  permitted  to  evacuate  the  fortress,  should 
he  consent  to  capitulate.  These  were  immediately  de- 
tailed, and  were  of  the  harshest  description ;  the  Em- 
peror declaring  that  M.  de  Sancerre  had  forfeited  all 
claim  to  the  lenity  which  he  had  previously  determined 
to  exert  towards  him,  by  an  obstinacy  as  weak  as  it 
was  unavailing.  He  had,  however,  miscalculated  the 
nature  of  the  Count,  who  at  once  peremptorily  refused 
to  accede  to  the  terms  proposed ;  and  Charles  at  length 
reluctantly  consented  to  permit  the  garrison  to  retain 
the  fortress  for  the  space  of  twelve  days  longer,  when, 
if  they  did  not  receive  succour  from  without,  they  were 
to  be  allowed  to  vacate  the  place  at  mid-day  with  all  the 
honours  of  war,  carrying  with  them  the  whole  of  their 
baggage  and  a  portion  of  their  artillery.  The  order 
which  had  been  transmitted  to  him,  and  the  death  of 
M.  de  Lalande,  who  was  killed  during  the  assault,  com- 
bined with  the  total  exhaustion  of  his  ammunition, 
determined  Sancerre  to  comply  with  these  conditions ; 
and,  accordingly,  on  the  appointed  day,  not  having 
in  the  interval  received  the  help  on  which  he  had  still 
ventured  to  rely,  he  vacated  the  city,  which  was  imme- 
diately garrisoned  by  the  imperialists. 

This  protracted  struggle  had,  however,  very  much 
exhausted  the  forces  of  the  Emperor ;  and  it  had  also 
cost  the  life,  among  others,  of  Rene  de  Nassau,  Prince 
of  Orange,  one  of  his  favourite  generals,  who  fell  on  the 
same  day  as  M.  de  Lalande,  to  the  regret  of  the  whole 
army,  to  whom  his  courage  and  afTabiUty  had  greatly 
endeared  him. 


304  Reign  of 

The  intelligence  of  the  surrender  of  St.  Dizicr  af- 
fected Francis  more  deeply  than  any  loss  which  he  had 
previously  sustained,  it  being  the  last  formidable  im- 
pediment to  Charles's  advance  on  Paris.  At  the  mo- 
ment when  it  reached  him  he  was  confined  to  his  bed 
by  indisposition ;  and  the  despatches  were  delivered  to 
him  in  the  presence  of  the  Queen  of  Navarre,  Madame 
d'Etampes,  and  other  ladies  of  the  court  who  were 
assembled  in  his  chamber  for  the  purpose  of  beguiling 
his  hours  of  enforced  inaction.  "  Oh,  my  God !  "  he 
exclaimed  when  he  had  finished  their  perusal,  "  how 
dearly  dost  Thou  make  me  pay  for  a  kingdom  which 
I  had  believed  was  freely  given.  Nevertheless,  Thy 
will  be  done."  Then  turning  to  his  sister,  he  said 
sadly,  "  Ma  migjioune,  I  entreat  of  you  to  attend 
complines  at  the  cathedral,  and  to  pray  to  God  for  me, 
that  even  should  it  be  His  will  to  support  and  favour 
the  Emperor  more  than  myself,  He  may  at  least  spare 
me  the  misery  of  seeing  him  encamped  before  the  capi- 
tal of  my  kingdom ;  and  of  having  it  placed  on  record 
that  my  rebellious  vassal  defied  me  to  my  beard,  as  his 
ancestor  the  Due  de  Bourgogne  formerly  defied  Louis 
XI.  Come  what  may,  however,  I  am  resolved  to  meet 
him  and  give  him  battle ;  and  I  pray  God  that  I  may  die 
rather  than  be  condemned  to  become  a  second  time  his 
prisoner." 

Two  days  subsequently  he  appeared  in  public  in  the 
midst  of  the  panic-stricken  citizens,  whom  he  endeav- 
oured to  reassure  by  the  calm  fearlessness  of  his  own 
deportment.  "  Remember,  my  faithful  burghers/'  he 
said,  as  they  crowded  about  him  with  loud  cries  of 
terror  and  distress,  "  remember,  that  although  I  may 
protect  you  from  all  harm,  I  cannot  preserve  you  from 


Francis  I  305 

fear,  for  God  holds  the  hearts  of  men  in  His  hand. 
You  must  strive  therefore  to  do  your  duty,  as  I  shall 
do  mine." 

These  were  brave  words,  and  worthy  the  sovereign 
of  a  great  nation,  but  unfortunately  they  were  only  lip- 
deep.  The  court  intrigues,  to  which  frequent  allusion 
has  already  been  made,  had  at  this  period  attained  to 
such  a  height,  that  plots  and  counterplots  were  per- 
petually circumventing  the  most  prudent  public  meas- 
ures. As  Madame  d'Etampes  saw  the  King  daily 
becoming  more  feeble,  she  began  to  tremble  at  the  con- 
sequences which  his  death  must  inevitably  entail  upon 
herself ;  and  although  she  cared  little  for  the  Due  d'Or- 
leans  personally,  she  determined  to  exert  all  her  ener- 
gies to  induce  Francis  to  accept  the  former  proposition 
of  the  Emperor,  and  to  marry  him  to  the  Princess  of 
Spain,  in  order  that  she  might  herself  secure  a  safe 
asylum,  either  in  the  duchy  of  Milan  or  the  Low  Coun- 
tries, after  the  demise  of  her  royal  lover. 

This  alliance  would,  moreover,  as  she  was  well  aware, 
mortify  the  pride  of  Diana  de  Poitiers,  by  placing  the 
younger  Prince  in  a  position  as  advantageous  as  that 
of  the  Dauphin ;  and  accordingly,  in  pursuance  of  this 
resolution,  she  urged  Francis  to  terminate  the  war  by 
an  alliance  for  which,  as  she  assured  him,  the  Emperor 
was  still  anxious.  The  stipulation  made  by  Charles, 
however,  that  the  ceded  territory  should  never  be 
united  to  the  French  Crown,  induced  the  King  to  per- 
sist in  his  refusal;  and  she  no  sooner  found  that  her 
influence  was  on  the  wane,  than  she  determined  to 
effect  her  purpose  by  other  and  less  unexceptionable 
means.  We  have  already  stated  that  Bossut,  Comte 
Vol.  III.— 20 


3o6  Francis  I 

de  Longneval,  was  at  once  her  lover  and  her  slave; 
and,  through  his  agency,  she  entered  into  a  treasonable 
correspondence  with  Charles,  to  whom  she  communi- 
cated the  most  secret  decisions  of  the  council.  The 
first-fruits  of  her  infamous  and  selfish  treachery  were 
the  loss  of  St.  Dizier ;  the  supposititious  order  of  the 
Due  de  Guise  having  been  written  by  the  Imperial 
Chancellor  Granvella,  to  whom  she  had  communicated 
the  secret  of  his  cypher. 

From  St.  Dizier  Charles  wrote  to  apprise  the  Eng- 
lish King  that  he  was  about  to  march  forthwith  upon 
Paris ;  but  Henry,  who  had  no  sooner  ascertained  that 
his  ally  had  taken  Luxembourg  than  he  determined  to 
follow  his  example,  drily  replied  by  an  assurance  that 
he  should  not  follow  until  he  had  possessed  himself  of 
Boulogne  and  Montreuil;  the  former  of  which  places 
he  had  already  invested  in  person  with  a  force  of  twenty 
thousand  men,  while  the  Duke  of  Norfolk  menaced  the 
latter  with  the  remainder  of  the  English  troops,  and 
the  Flemish  forces  of  De  Buren  and  De  Roeux. 

The  Emperor,  indignant  at  this  selfish  policy,  which, 
although  he  had  considered  it  legitimate  on  his  own 
part,  he  condemned  as  a  breach  of  faith  upon  that  of 
his  coadjutor,  retorted  by  requesting  that  since  such 
was  the  case,  and  that  his  army  was  seriously  weakened 
by  a  delay  which  he  had  not  foreseen,  he  might  be 
permitted  to  save  his  honour  by  demanding  a  truce. 
To  this  request  Henry,  bent  upon  the  conquests  which 
he  meditated,  offered  no  opposition ;  declaring  to  those 
about  him  that  he  was  quite  strong  enough  to  carry  out 
his  measures  without  extraneous  aid ;  and  thencefor- 
ward the  two  potentates  ceased  altogether  to  act  in 
concert. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Eflfects  of  the  Resistance  of  St.  Dizier — Charles  V.  Endeavours 
to  Effect  a  Peace — The  Queen  and  Madame  d'Etampes  In- 
duce the  King  to  Enter  into  a  Negotiation  with  the  Em- 
peror— The  Dauphin  Demands  the  Recall  of  Montmorenci 
— The  Comte  de  Furstemberg  is  Made  Prisoner  by  the  French 
— Charles  V.  Determines  on  a  Retreat  to  the  Low  Coun- 
tries— Madame  d'Etampes  Enables  Him  to  Possess  Himself 
of  Epernay  and  Chateau-Thierry — Alarm  of  the  Parisians- 
Prudent  Measures  of  the  Dauphin — Henry  VHI.  Takes 
Boulogne — Francis  Concludes  a  Treaty  with  the  Emperor 
— The  Negotiation  of  Marriage  between  the  Due  d'Orleans 
and  the  Daughter  of  the  Emperor  is  Renewed — Discontent 
of  the  Dauphin — He  Protests  against  the  Treaty — The 
French  Army  Marches  into  Picardy — The  Dauphin  Makes 
a  Night-attack  upon  Boulogne — The  French  are  Repulsed-— 
Gallantry  of  Montluc — Termination  of  the  Campaign  of  1544 
— The  Emperor  Resolves  to  Suppress  the  League  of  Smal- 
kalden — Charles  V.  Determines  to  Bestow  the  Hand  of  His 
Daughter  upon  the  Due  d'Orleans — The  Emperor  Endeavours 
to  Conciliate  the  Pope — Persecution  of  the  Flemish  Re- 
formers— Massacre  of  the  Vaudois — Imprudence  of  the 
Dauphin — A  Court  Banquet — Disgrace  of  the  Dauphin — 
Francis  Raises  a  Naval  Armament  against  England — He 
Sends  Succour  to  the  Dowager-Queen  of  Scotland — An 
Army  is  Despatched  to  Picardy — The  Banquet  on  Board 
the  Carraquon — D'Annebaut  Sails  with  the  French  Fleet — 
Operations  on  the  English  Coast — The  French  Land  in  Sus- 
sex— Destroy  Brighton,  and  New  Haven,  and  Take  Pos- 
session of  the  Isle  of  Wight — The  French  Fleet  Returns 
to  Havre. 

307 


3o8  Reign  of 

THE  Emperor  meanwhile  pursued  the  course  of  the 
Marne,  and  advanced  so  far  into  the  province 
of  Champagne  that  he  found  himself  closely  pressed 
by  the  troops  of  the  Dauphin,  who  cut  off  all  his  sup- 
pHes,  and  threatened  his  army  with  famine.  The 
noble  defence  of  St.  Dizier  had,  notwithstanding  the 
apprehensions  of  the  King,  proved  the  salvation  of 
France,  by  affording  time  on  the  one  hand  for  the  bet- 
ter organization  of  her  army,  and  on  the  other  by 
harassing  and  exhausting  that  of  the  enemy ;  but  the 
most  important  of  its  results  was  the  coolness  and  jeal- 
ousy which  it  had  produced  between  Charles  and  the 
English  King;  the  refusal  of  Henry  VHI.  to  march 
upon  Paris,  when  he  was  apprised  by  the  Emperor  of 
his  own  intention  of  proceeding  thither,  having  con- 
vinced Charles  that  he  must  not  calculate  upon  that 
blind  deference  to  his  wishes  which  he  had  led  him- 
self to  expect  from  his  equally  arrogant  ally ;  and,  ac- 
cordingly, while  he  resolved  to  advance  unsupported, 
in  order  to  impress  upon  Francis  the  peril  to  which  he 
would  expose  himself  by  persisting  in  hostilities,  he 
seconded  the  views  of  Madame  d'Etampes  by  declaring 
to  several  French  officers  whom  he  had  made  prison- 
ers, that  so  far  from  seeking  to  provoke  a  war,  he  was 
ready  to  effect  a  reconciliation  with  their  sovereign ; 
and  at  the  same  period  a  Spanish  monk,  of  the  order 
of  St.  Dominic,  who  was  the  confessor  of  Queen  Eleo- 
nora,  entered,  by  her  commands,  into  a  correspondence 
to  this  effect  with  Martin  de  Gusman,*  who  held  a  sim- 
ilar office  about  the  Emperor. 

*  Martin  de  Gusman  was  a  Dominican  friar,  to  whom,  upon  an  occa- 
sion when  be  had  permitted  himself  to  indulge  in  some  disrespectful 


Francis  I  309 

Granvella,  his  Chancellor,  strongly  urged  him  to  a 
reconciliation ;  and  he  was  the  more  inclined  to  such 
a  measure,  as  the  protracted  resistance  of  St.  Dizier, 
under  the  most  unfavourable  circumstances,  had  suf- 
ficed to  convince  him  that  his  meditated  campaign  pre- 
sented more  difficulties  than  he  was  either  prepared, 
or  enabled,  at  that  particular  moment,  to  surmount. 
On  the  other  hand,  both  the  Queen  and  the  favourite, 
although  from  very  different  motives,  laboured  to  con- 
vince Francis  of  the  impolicy  of  permitting  the  Em- 
peror to  approach  nearer  to  the  capital,  where  the  im- 
possibility of  effecting  a  safe  retreat  in  the  event  of 
defeat  would  render  the  imperialist  army  desperate, 
and  involve  the  whole  country  in  bloodshed  and  ruin ; 
while  their  success  would  equally  prove  the  destruction 
of  his  kingdom. 

At  length  a  conference  between  the  representatives 
of  the  two  powers  was  opened  at  La  Chaussee,  a  small 
village  midway  between  Vitry  and  Chalons;  but  al- 
though it  was  admitted  by  all  parties  that  the  war  must 
prove  unprofitable  to  both  potentates,  and  that  a  gen- 
eral peace  was  desirable  for  the  welfare  of  Europe,  they 
separated  without  having  effected  any  definite  arrange- 
ment. 

During  this  negotiation,  and,  beyond  all  doubt,  with 
the  intention  of  alarming  Francis  into  a  compliance 
with  the  conditions  upon  which  he  had  consented  to 

expressions  regardinjf  Francis  I.,  M.  de  Neuilly,  at  that  period  the 
French  ambassador  in  Spain,  publicly  gave  a  blow  upon  the  mouth;  a 
vehemence  by  which  he  deprived  himself  of  the  dignity  of  chancellor 
which  subsequently  became  vacant,  and  which  was  destined  for  him; 
the  Cardinal  de  Tournon  representing  to  the  King  that  a  man  who  could 
not  control  his  temper  was  unfit  to  become  either  a  magistrate  or  a 
judge. 


3IO  Reign  of 

forego  all  further  hostilities,  the  Emperor  continued 
his  onward  march  until  he  reached  Chalons ;  where 
the  Due  de  Nevers,  who  held  the  city,  immediately 
prepared  for  a  siege.  Charles  V.,  however,  who  had 
received  sure  intelligence  of  the  great  strength  of  the 
garrison,  continued  his  march  without  evincing  any 
intention  of  attacking  the  fortress,  to  the  extreme  an- 
noyance of  the  Prince  and  his  officers ;  and  the  disap- 
pointment so  enraged  several  young  nobles  of  the  suite 
of  the  Due  de  Nevers  who  had  thrown  themselves  into 
the  place,  that  they  made  a  sudden  sortie,  and  com- 
menced a  skirmish  with  the  rearguard  of  the  imperial- 
ists, by  which  imprudence  they  all  sacrificed  their 
lives ;  the  German  cavalry  having  a  short  time  previ- 
ously been  armed  with  pistols,  a  fact  of  which  their 
enemies  were  not  aware. 

The  position  of  the  Dauphin  became  daily  more  dif- 
ficult ;  as,  in  order  to  avoid  an  engagement,  he  was 
compelled  to  retreat  as  the  Emperor  advanced ;  and 
consequently,  to  fall  back  so  closely  upon  the  troops 
of  Henry  VIII.,  that  a  few  forced  marches  would  have 
enabled  them  to  attack  him  in  the  rear.  He  had, 
moreover,  lost  all  confidence  in  d'Annebaut,  and  urged 
the  King,  in  this  extremity,  to  permit  the  recall  of 
Montmorenci ;  but  Francis  was  still  too  much  exas- 
perated against  him  to  consent  to  such  an  arrange- 
ment; a  fact  of  which  Madame  d'Etampes  was  well 
aware,  and  by  which  she  so  skilfully  profited  as  to  se- 
cure d'Annebaut  in  his  post,  and  thus  deliver  herself 
from  the  peril  to  which  she  must  have  been  exposed, 
had  she  been  compelled  to  exchange  a  fast  friend  for 
a  watchful  enemy  during  her  secret  negotiations  with 
the  Emperor. 


Francis  I  311 

As  the  imperialists  had  ere  long  discovered  that  the 
Dauphin,  whom  they  were  aware  was  constitutionally 
brave,  must  be  acting  under  stringent  orders  thus  to 
suffer  them  to  approach  the  capital  unmolested,  they 
resolved,  if  possible,  to  compel  him  to  give  them  battle 
before  the  rapid  exhaustion  of  their  provisions  forced 
them  to  an  ignoble  and  dangerous  retreat ;  and  Comte 
Guillaume  de  Furstemberg,  who  had  during  his  ser- 
vice in  the  French  army  made  himself  intimately  ac- 
quainted with  the  surrounding  country,  volunteered  to 
point  out  to  his  new  master  a  ford  a  little  below  the 
town,  by  which  the  troops  might  pass  the  river,  and 
turning  the  flank  of  the  Dauphin's  forces,  render  an 
engagement  inevitable.  Anxious,  however,  not  to  fail 
in  his  promise,  he  resolved  to  attempt  it  himself  dur- 
ing the  night  with  a  few  followers ;  a  purpose  which 
he  effected  in  safety,  and  he  was  about  to  return  and 
report  his  success  to  the  Emperor,  when  the  advance 
guard  of  the  French  suddenly  surrounded  his  party, 
the  whole  of  whom  they  either  killed  or  made  prison- 
ers. The  renegade  Count  was  among  the  captives; 
and  so  exasperated  were  those  by  whom  he  was  taken, 
that  they  assailed  him  with  the  most  violent  invectives, 
and  he  was  forthwith  conveyed  under  an  escort  to 
Paris,  where  he  was  committed  to  the  Bastille. 

This  disappointment  proved  the  more  serious  to 
Charles  that  his  army  was  beginning  to  suffer  seriously 
from  want ;  the  Dauphin  having  laid  waste  the  coun- 
try on  both  banks  of  the  Marne,  after  he  had  filled  the 
storehouses  of  Epernay  and  Chateau-Thierry  for  the 
supply  of  his  own  troops ;  and,  thus  convinced  of  the 
failure  of  his  enterprise,  the  Emperor  authorized  Gus- 


312  Reign  of 

man  secretly  to  pursue  the  negotiation  which  had  been 
commenced  at  La  Chaussee ;  after  which,  as  a  last  re- 
source, and  still  with  the  same  view  of  compelling  a 
peace,  he  resumed  his  march  along  the  river,  although 
uncertain  how  long  he  should  be  able  to  subsist  his 
troops. 

He  was  not  suflfered,  however,  to  remain  in  doubt 
upon  this  important  point,  for  the  Duchesse  d'Etampes 
no  sooner  ascertained  the  jeopardy  in  which  he  was 
placed,  than,  apprehending  that  the  retreat  of  the  Em- 
peror to  the  Low  Countries  must  at  once  destroy  all 
hope  of  the  alliance  which  she  was  eager  to  forward, 
she  desired  de  Longueval  to  inform  him  that  she  could 
give  him  information  which  would  enable  him  to  pos- 
sess himself  both  of  Epernay  and  Chateau-Thierry, 
and  thus  readily  to  victual  his  army.  Charles  at  once 
accepted  the  offer,  assuring  the  treacherous  Duchess 
that  he  would  in  requital  of  so  signal  a  service  pledge 
himself  to  second  her  own  projects  regarding  the  mar- 
riage of  the  Due  d'Orleans ;  upon  which  Jean  de  Bos- 
sut,  by  a  heavy  bribe,  induced  the  captain  who  was 
intrusted  with  the  destruction  of  the  bridge  of  Eper- 
nay, by  which  the  Dauphin  had  designed  to  prevent 
the  entrance  of  the  enemy  into  the  town,  to  delay  the 
performance  of  his  duty  for  so  long  a  period  that  it 
afforded  Charles  sufficient  time  to  attack  the  outpost, 
to  force  his  way  across,  and  to  take  possession  of  both 
places. 

The  consternation  of  the  Parisians  when  they  be- 
came assured  that  the  imperialists  were  actually  in 
Chateau-Thierry,  and  that  they  had  even  thrown  their 
outposts  forward  to  Meaux,  exceeded  all  precedent; 


Francis  I  313 

nor  could  the  wise  precautions  taken  by  the  Dauphin 
serve  to  allay  them.  Immediately  upon  the  surprise 
of  the  two  important  posts  which  had  thus  been  wrest- 
ed from  him  by  treachery,  he  had  despatched  a  force 
of  nearly  eight  thousand  men  to  occupy  that  city ; 
while  Charles,  who  was  now  at  ease  as  regarded  the 
subsistence  of  his  army,  did  not  again  attempt  to  cross 
the  Marne,  but  abandoning  the  course  of  the  river, 
proceeded  to  Villars-Cotterets,  and  thence  to  the  town 
of  Soissons,  which  he  delivered  over  to  pillage  for  the 
space  of  three  days. 

The  panic  in  the  capital  remained  at  its  acme.  The 
most  opulent  of  the  citizens  fled  to  Rouen  and  Or- 
leans for  safety,  carrying  with  them  all  the  movable 
portion  of  their  property ;  and  the  different  roads  were 
covered  with  wagorvs  filled  with  household  goods, 
women,  and  children,  while  equipages  of  every  de- 
scription threaded  their  way  among  the  more  cum- 
brous vehicles ;  and  bands  of  robbers,  to  whom  every 
public  disorder  affords  a  harvest,  rifled  the  fugitives  as 
they  endeavoured  to  escape  with  the  wreck  of  their 
fortunes. 

In  this  season  of  individual  peril,  all  national  pride 
and  all  sense  of  loyalty  were  alike  forgotten.  In  vain 
did  the  King  send  the  Due  de  Guise  to  reassure  the 
inhabitants,  and  subsequently  attempted  the  same  un- 
profitable errand  himself;  they  were  alike  unheeded; 
and  at  that  precise  moment  Francis  received  intelli- 
gence that  Boulogne  had  capitulated,  and  that  Henry 
VIII.  was,  in  his  turn,  marching  upon  Paris.  This 
information  at  once  determined  the  measures  of  the 
King.     D'Annebaut  had  already  arrived  with  the  con- 


314  Reign  of 

ditions  of  the  Emperor,  which  he  had  previously  re- 
solved to  reject;  but  fearing  that  Charles  might  be- 
come even  more  unreasonable  in  his  demands,  should 
he  learn  the  recent  success  of  the  English  monarch, 
he  hastened  to  conclude  the  treaty;  and  once  more 
the  Marechal  was  despatched  to  Brussels  by  express 
to  procure  the  signature  of  Charles,  whom  he  found 
on  his  arrival  suffering  severely  from  an  attack  of  gout. 
Having  received  express  injunctions  not  to  return 
without  having  effected  his  mission,  he  however  vent- 
ured to  urge  its  immediate  accomplishment,  notwith- 
standing the  undisguised  reluctance  of  the  Emperor, 
when  the  latter  said  with  considerable  irritation  of 
manner,  as  he  took  the  pen  which  had  been  prepared 
for  him,  between  his  swollen  fingers :  "  You  are  press- 
ing, M.  de  Marechal ;  but  I  pray  you  to  observe  from 
what  you  now  see,  that  I  am  not  likely  to  forfeit  the 
pledge  which  I  have  given,  as  he  who  cannot  hold  a 
pen  in  time  of  peace,  would  be  little  able  to  wield  a 
sword  in  the  hour  of  battle." 

"  Sire,"  was  the  immediate  and  pertinent  reply  of 
d'Annebaut,  accompanied,  however,  by  a  profound 
obeisance,  "  it  is  scarcely  to  be  anticipated  that  your 
imperial  Majesty  will  be  for  ever  afflicted  with  the 
gout." 

The  universal  satisfaction  evinced  throughout 
France  on  the  conclusion  of  the  new  treaty,  was,  how- 
ever, premature ;  for  although  wearied  of  a  war  which 
had  impoverished  their  cities,  devastated  their  prov- 
inces, and  involved  an  enormous  sacrifice  of  life,  the 
unfortunate  subjects  of  Francis  I.  had  merely  pur- 
chased a  temporary  tranquillity,  by  a  more  threaten- 


Francis  I  315 

ing  danger  than  even  that  from  which  they  were  thus 
deUvered.  The  principal  articles  of  the  treaty  set  forth 
that  "  within  the  space  of  two  years  the  Emperor 
should  bestow  the  hand  of  his  daughter,  or  that  of  his 
niece,  according  to  his  own  pleasure,  upon  the  Due 
d'Orleans ;  with  either  the  Milanese,  or  the  Low  Coun- 
tries and  the  counties  of  Bourgogne  andCharolois  as  her 
dowry,  also  at  his  own  option.  Should  he  decide  upon 
thus  ceding  the  Milanese,  moreover,  he  was  to  retain 
the  citadels  of  Milan  and  Cremona  until  the  Princess 
should  have  male  issue;  while  Francis  was  to  resign 
his  claim  alike  to  the  Kingdom  of  Naples  and  the  Mi- 
lanese Duchy,  should  he  determine  to  endow  the  Duke 
with  the  Low  Countries ;  and  moreover  restore  all  the 
territories  of  the  Due  de  Savoie,  although  he  was  per- 
mitted to  retain  his  fortresses  until  the  Emperor  re- 
linquished those  of  Milan  and  Cremona,  save  such 
as  had  been  taken  since  the  truce  of  Nice,  which  were 
to  be  at  once  given  up  on  both  sides,  as  well  as  all  those 
which  had  been  taken  in  France  and  the  Low  Coun- 
tries." 

This  treaty,  however  advantageous  it  was  likely  to 
prove  to  the  Due  d'Orleans,  was  one  by  which  France 
as  a  nation  was  at  once  weakened  and  endangered; 
and  the  Dauphin  accordingly  protested  strongly 
against  its  acceptance.  It  aggrandized  his  brother  at 
his  expense,  and  dismembered  the  kingdom  which  he 
regarded  as  his  just  inheritance.  Rather,  as  he  de- 
clared, would  he  still  trust  to  the  force  of  arms,  than 
consent  to  a  concession  by  which  he  was  humiliated, 
and  which  threatened  to  involve  the  nation  in  anarchy ; 
but  his  representations  were  disregarded;  the  King, 


3i6  Reign  of 

failing  in  health,  with  all  his  energies  depressed,  and 
surrounded  by  advisers  who  from  private  interests  or 
public  policy  were  anxious  to  secure  a  termination  of 
the  war,  treated  his  arguments  with  a  cold  and  reso- 
lute indifference  which  convinced  him  that  further  op- 
position would  be  useless ;  and,  accordingly,  he  signed 
a  solemn  protest  against  it  at  Fontainebleau  on  the 
I2th  of  December,  in  the  presence  of  the  Due  de  Ven- 
dome,  the  Comte  d'Enghien,  and  the  Comte  d'Aumale, 
afterwards  Due  de  Guise ;  a  ceremony  which  although 
common  at  the  time  could  be  of  Httle  effect. 

The  treaty  had  no  sooner  been  concluded  by  the  two 
contracting  parties  at  Crespy,  on  the  i8th  of  Septem- 
ber, than  the  Emperor  despatched  an  order  to  De 
Buren  and  De  Rceux,  who  were  assisting  the  English 
in  the  siege  of  Montreuil,  to  disband  their  troops  and 
retire ;  while  the  Due  d'Orleans,  the  Cardinals  of  Lor- 
raine and  Meudon,  and  several  nobles  of  high  rank, 
proceeded  to  join  Charles  at  Brussels,  where  they  were 
to  remain  as  hostages  until  the  fortresses  designated 
by  the  treaty  were  evacuated ;  the  Marechal  d'Anne- 
baut  was  also  despatched  to  Brussels,  and  the  Dauphin 
marched  to  the  relief  of  Montreuil,  greatly  to  the 
chagrin  of  Henry  VIII.,  who  was  vigorously  besieging 
that  city;  but  who,  abandoned  by  his  German  allies, 
and  unable  to  resist  so  powerful  an  army  as  that  now 
brought  against  him,  raised  the  siege,  threw  a  strong 
garrison  into  Boulogne,  and  retreated  with  the  remain- 
der of  his  forces  to  Calais,  where  he  at  once  embarked 
for  England.  He  moreover  retired  in  such  haste,  that 
although  he  had  left  a  large  body  of  troops  to  defend 
the  city,  he  haid  not  prg^pized  any  plan  by  which  that 


Francis  I  317 

defence  might  be  assured ;  the  principal  portion  of  his 
artillery  was  still  planted  outside  the  walls,  and  all  his 
military  stores  remained  in  the  lower  town,  which  was 
rendered  imminently  unsafe  by  the  numerous  breaches 
that  had  induced  the  besieged  to  abandon  it,  and  to  re- 
tire into  the  upper  portion  of  the  place,  where  they 
were  covered  by  the  citadel. 

The  Dauphin,  apprised  of  this  negligence,  deter- 
mined to  hazard  a  night  attack,  for  the  double  purpose 
of  recovering  the  town,  and  securing  the  stores  which 
were  housed  in  its  magazines.  Placing  himself  at  the 
head  of  a  few  companies  of  infantry,  the  whole  of  whom 
by  his  orders  wore  their  shirts  over  their  uniforms  that 
they  might  be  enabled  to  recognise  each  other  in  the 
darkness,  he  accordingly  directed  M.  de  Tais,  his  sec- 
ond in  command,  to  march  in  profound  silence  towards 
the  breaches  in  the  walls  of  the  lower  town,  which  were 
defended  only  by  a  slender  guard ;  while  M.  de  Dam- 
pierre  advanced  upon  the  tower  on  the  sea-shore  with 
his  corps  of  Grisons. 

M.  de  Tais  readily  effected  his  entrance  into  the 
place,  by  overpowering  the  few  troops  who  were  there 
stationed;  but  he  was  unfortunately  so  severely 
wounded  during  the  attack  that  he  was  compelled  to 
retire  to  the  camp ;  upon  which  the  French  troops,  al- 
though already  in  possession  of  the  town,  finding 
themselves  without  a  leader,  and  being  informed  that 
the  English  were  about  to  make  a  sortie,  and  to  repos- 
sess themselves  of  the  breaches  in  order  to  intercept 
their  retreat,  became  so  terrified  that  they  began  to  fly 
in  the  utmost  confusion ;  nor  could  all  the  efforts  of  their 
other  officers,  among  whom  was  the  brave  Montluc, 


3i8  Reign  of 

succeed  in  inducing  them  to  rally  and  hold  their 
ground.  Day  was  beginning  to  dawn  when  the  place 
was  abandoned,  and  Montluc  was  the  last  to  pass  the 
walls,  with  three  arrows  in  his  buckler  and  one  in  the 
sleeve  of  his  coat-of-mail ;  declaring  as  he  rejoined  his 
friends  that  he  bore  about  him  all  the  booty  that  he 
had  made  at  Boulogne.  Immediately  afterwards  the 
fugitives  were  met  by  a  strong  force  of  lansquenets  un- 
der d'Annebaut  who  was  advancing  to  their  assist- 
ance, but  it  was  already  too  late;  and  the  Dauphin, 
having  strengthened  the  garrison  of  Montreuil  as  a 
check  upon  its  threatening  neighbour,  the  campaign 
terminated  for  the  winter. 

The  war  which  was  thus  closed,  inglorious  as  it  had 
proved  to  both  sovereigns,  had,  nevertheless,  been  a 
source  of  immense  suffering  to  the  French  people. 
The  peasantry  had  been  oppressed  and  outraged  al- 
ternately by  friends  and  enemies ;  their  cattle  had  been 
slaughtered,  their  grain  cut  down  before  it  ripened, 
their  houses  pillaged,  their  wives  and  daughters  in- 
sulted, and  the  provinces  of  Champagne  and  Picardy, 
once  so  abundant  in  produce  of  every  description,  laid 
waste,  and  the  cities  abandoned ;  while  even  many  of 
the  nobles,  who  had  hitherto  Hved  in  affluence,  were 
compelled  to  quit  their  devastated  estates,  and  to  throw 
themselves  upon  the  charity  of  those  who  had  escaped 
a  similar  ruin. 

The  Emperor,  on  quitting  France,  had  disbanded  a 
large  portion  of  his  army,  but  he  had  retained  his  most 
efficient  force,  and  quartered  all  his  Spanish  troops  in 
Lorraine.  He  had  abandoned  all  further  projects 
against  the  Infidels,  and  he  was  weary  of  making  war 


Francis  I  319 

against  Francis,  terminating,  as  it  ever  did,  in  new 
treaties,  which  each  in  turn  disregarded,  when  such  a 
breach  of  faith  suited  his  policy.  Still  he  was  unwill- 
ing to  remain  in  inaction ;  and  once  more  he  resolved 
to  humble  the  pretensions  of  the  Protestant  Princes, 
whose  partial  independence  he  regarded  as  an  affront 
to  his  own  dignity. 

Meanwhile  his  affection  for  the  Due  d'Orleans  in- 
creased daily;  the  lively,  frank,  and  fearless  disposi- 
tion of  the  young  Prince  amused  his  leisure,  and  di- 
verted his  hours  of  suffering;  while  his  undisguised 
ambition,  and  the  jealousy  which  he  evinced  of  his 
elder  brother,  only  the  more  tended  to  increase  his 
favour.  Charles  had  already  resolved  to  give  him  the 
hand  of  his  daughter;  but,  at  the  suggestion  of  the 
Duke  himself,  he  addressed  a  letter  to  Francis,  in  which 
he  affirmed  his  intention  of  marrying  him  to  his  niece, 
unless  the  King  should  consent  to  increase  his  appan- 
age in  France,  which,  by  the  treaty  of  Crespy,  amount- 
ed only  to  a  hundred  thousand  annual  livres.  Fran- 
cis, as  had  ever  been  the  fashion  with  both  monarchs, 
made  no  definite  reply  to  this  demand,  but  deferred  his 
decision  until  the  period  of  the  projected  alliance 
should  have  arrived;  and  the  Emperor,  absorbed  by 
his  newly-awakened  hatred  of  the  Reformers,  forbore 
on  his  side  to  urge  him  further  upon  the  subject. 

The  Emperor  was  eager  to  pursue  his  persecution 
of  the  Smalkalden  league,  and  to  compel  the  Princes 
to  submit  once  more  to  the  dominion  of  the  Roman 
Church,  in  order  to  secure  at  the  same  time  his  own 
supremacy,  and  to  conciliate  the  favour  of  the  Pope, 
which  he  had  forfeited  by  his  alliance  with  Henry  VIII. 


320  Reign  of 

The  Pontiff  had  evinced  his  displeasure,  by  convoking, 
without  his  concurrence,  the  council  of  Trent,  which 
reversed  the  interim  granted  by  Charles  to  the  Protes- 
tants, while  at  the  same  time  he  openly  declared  that 
Francis  had  conferred  a  greater  benefit  upon  Christen- 
dom by  his  persecution  of  the  heretics,  than  injury  by 
his  momentary  alliance  with  the  Infidels.  He  had, 
moreover,  addressed  a  caustic  letter  to  the  Emperor, 
in  which  he  advised  him  to  refer  to  himself  all  the 
ecclesiastical  questions  in  which  he  had  hitherto  per- 
mitted his  imperial  diets  to  intermeddle ;  declaring  that 
he  alone  was  competent  to  decide  them,  and  threaten- 
ing him  with  his  vengeance  should  he  disobey. 

As  this  precise  measure  was  at  the  moment  that 
which  appeared  the  best  calculated  to  assist  his  own 
projects,  Charles,  instead  of  resenting  the  haughtiness 
of  the  Pontiff,  commanded  all  his  subjects  in  the  Low 
Countries  to  obey,  on  peril  of  their  lives,  the  bull  which 
had  been  issued,  and  immediately  to  discontinue  the 
practices  of  their  religion ;  but  the  Lutherans,  although 
they  dared  no  longer  worship  in  public  as  they  had 
for  some  time  been  permitted  to  do,  would  not  so 
lightly  abandon  the  faith  they  had  adopted ;  nor  was 
it  long  ere  Charles  ascertained  that  the  inhabitants  of 
Tournay  had  summoned  to  their  city  a  celebrated 
French  preacher,  called  Pierre  du  Breuil,  who  was  ac- 
customed to  perform  the  reformed  service  secretly; 
upon  which  he  caused  him  to  be  arrested  as  he  was 
returning  from  the  ramparts,  and  burnt  him  by  a  slow 
fire  in  the  great  square  on  the  19th  of  February. 

This  fearful  example  aroused  the  jealousy  of  the 
French  King,  who,  anxious  not  to  be  surpassed  in  zeal 


Francis  I  321 

for  the  Church  by  a  monarch  who  had  already  injured 
him  in  the  opinion  of  all  the  Romanist  Princes  by  his 
crusades  against  the  Infidels,  determined  in  his  turn, 
to  strike  a  decisive  blow  which  should  reinstate  him  in 
their  esteem,  by  exceeding  the  efforts  then  making  by 
his  rival. 

After  the  frightful  religious  persecution  of  the  nth 
century,  by  which  the  Albigenses  were  exterminated, 
a  few  of  the  Vaudois,  who  had  succeeded  in  eflfecting 
their  escape,  had  concealed  themselves  in  the  narrow- 
est and  most  secluded  valleys  of  the  Alps,  where,  by 
their  exemplary  industry  and  peaceful  demeanour,  they 
had  so  much  ingratiated  themselves  with  the  surround- 
ing nobles,  that  they  were  permitted  to  pursue  their 
agrarian  avocations  unmolested.  Thus  they  had  in 
time  greatly  increased  in  numbers,  and  while  the  rest 
of  Europe  was  engaged  in  war,  they  had  quietly  reared 
their  crops,  tended  their  herds,  and  made  many  a 
hitherto  barren  spot  smile  with  vegetation.  Their  life 
was  a  purely  pastoral  one ;  and,  although  occasionally 
disturbed  by  some  passing  persecution,  they  relied  so 
implicitly  upon  the  privilege  accorded  to  them  by 
Louis  XII,  who,  having  compelled  them  to  declare 
their  submission  to  the  Church  of  Rome,  granted  them 
free  permission  to  remain  unmolested  in  their  moun- 
tain-fastnesses, that  they  had  toiled  and  prospered, 
spreading  themselves  by  degrees  along  the  range  of 
the  Alps,  and  occupying  some  of  the  highest  points 
above  the  marquisate  of  Saluzzo.  Subsequently  their 
agricultural  skill  became  so  greatly  appreciated  that 
they  were,  towards  the  close  of  the  thirteenth  century, 
put  into  possession  of  a  confined  and  desert  district 
Vol.  III.— 21 


322  Reign  of 

to  the  north  of  the  Durance ;  and  there  they  had  dur- 
ing nearly  three  centuries  made  their  abode,  convert- 
ing the  waste  into  a  smiHng  garden,  and  peopling  the 
adjacent  heights  with  innumerable  flocks  and  herds. 

This  prosperity,  calm  and  patriarchal  as  it  was,  how- 
ever, excited  the  envy  and  malevolence  of  their  Roman 
neighbours.  Their  territory,  which  extended  from  the 
foot  of  the  Alps  to  the  district  of  Venaissan,  contained 
two  towns,  those  of  Merindol  and  Cabrieres,  and  about 
thirty  villages ;  while  midway  between  the  towns  stood 
the  borough  of  Oppede,  which  belonged  to  the  Baron 
Jean  Meynier,  President  of  the  Parliament  of  Prov- 
ence, and  was  entirely  inhabited  by  Roman  Catholics, 
which  faith  he  himself  professed. 

It  unfortunately  happened,  at  the  period  to  which 
we  must  now  return,  (1545,)  that  one  of  the  vassals  of 
De  Meynier,  having  incurred  a  heavy  debt  to  his  rigor- 
ous master  which  he  was  unable  to  liquidate,  left  his 
home  stealthily,  and  fled  for  security  to  Cabrieres;  a 
fact  which  the  Baron  no  sooner  ascertained,  than,  de- 
termined to  avail  himself  of  so  favourable  an  oppor- 
tunity of  persecuting  his  detested  neighbours,  he  hast- 
ened to  apprise  the  King  that  the  whole  district  was 
in  a  state  of  revolt,  and  that  it  was  apprehended  the 
Reformers  had  formed  a  plot  to  possess  themselves  of 
Marseilles. 

Francis  made  no  effort  to  assure  himself  of  the  truth 
of  this  statement,  but  at  once  authorized  De  Meynier 
to  put  in  force  the  decree  promulgated  against  the  Vau- 
dois  in  1540,  during  his  first  persecution  of  the  pro- 
fessors of  the  reformed  religion;  a  decree  which  had 
consigned  all  the  heads  of  families  to  the  flames,  their 


Francis  I  323 

wives  and  children  to  slavery,  their  property  to  confis- 
cation, and  their  habitations  to  demolition.  This  in- 
iquitous sentence  had,  however,  been  remitted  at  the 
entreaty  of  Du  Bellay-Langei,  who,  after  having  made 
a  survey  of  the  little  colony,  convinced  the  King  of 
their  usefulness  and  love  of  order ;  upon  which,  moved 
by  his  representation,  and  about  to  enter  into  a  new 
war  in  which  these  border  allies  might  probably  prove 
serviceable,  Francis  had  consented  to  revoke  the  edict ; 
and,  by  a  declaration  addressed  to  the  Parliament  of 
Aix,  pardoned  the  Vaudois  all  their  past  errors,  and 
accorded  to  them  a  period  of  three  months,  at  the  termi- 
nation of  which  they  were  called  upon  to  recant  them. 

In  reply  to  this  summons  the  Vaudois  forwarded  to 
the  King  a  written  confession  of  their  faith,  humbly 
entreating  that  he  would  point  out  the  errors  which 
they  were  thus  commanded  to  abjure;  but,  although 
no  attention  was  vouchsafed  to  their  appeal,  they  had 
since  been  suffered  to  remain  unmolested. 

Now,  however,  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  and  the 
mutual  engagement  of  the  Emperor  and  the  French 
King  to  exterminate  all  heresy  throughout  their  re- 
spective dominions,  had  rendered  his  frontier-towns  of 
comparatively  small  importance  to  Francis;  and  he 
resolved,  although  Charles  had  once  more  taken  the 
initiative,  and  that  the  pyres  had  been  already  lighted 
in  Belgium,  that  he  too  would  purchase  his  salvation 
by  the  same  means.  Unhappily  for  the  victims  whom 
he  had  resolved  to  immolate,  he  was  again  prostrated 
by  a  relapse  of  the  malady  to  which  he  had  long  been  a 
victim ;  and  the  Cardinal  de  Tournon,  while  entreating 
him  to  make  his  peace  with  God  lest  he  should  not 


324  Reign  of 

survive  the  attack,  assured  him  that  he  could  not  more 
effectually  do  so  than  by  persisting  in  so  pious  an  in- 
tention. The  Archbishop  of  Aries,  the  Bishop  of  Aix, 
and  sundry  other  ecclesiastics  who  were  then  assem- 
bled at  Avignon,  seconded  the  efforts  of  the  Cardinal, 
by  conjuring  him  to  revoke  the  amnesty  which  he  had 
granted  to  the  heretical  Vaudois ;  and  thus,  even  had 
he  subsequently  repented  the  barbarous  order  which  he 
had  caused  to  be  transmitted  to  De  Meynier,  the 
hourly-increasing  superstition  of  Francis,  which  always 
displayed  itself  under  a  fear  of  approaching  death, 
hardened  his  heart  against  every  thought  of  mercy; 
and  the  secret  preparations  of  the  vindictive  baron  were 
continued  with  a  caution  and  celerity  which  blinded 
the  wretched  Lutherans  to  their  danger,  even  when  it 
had  reached  their  very  thresholds ;  nor  was  it  until  he 
issued  an  order  that  all  individuals  who  were  capable 
of  bearing  arms  throughout  the  province  should  im- 
mediately assemble,  well  provided  with  food  and  weap- 
ons for  an  expedition  which  was  not  explained,  that 
they  were  awakened  to  a  sense  of  their  peril. 

The  fated  victims  of  selfish  bigotry  immediately 
despatched  messengers  to  inform  the  Lutheran  Princes 
and  the  Protestant  cantons  of  Switzerland  of  the 
jeopardy  in  which  they  were  placed,  and  to  entreat 
their  assistance ;  and  their  co-religionists  lost  no  time 
in  forwarding  a  deputation  to  the  King,  which  was 
commissioned  to  implore  his  clemency  for  the  poor 
mountaineers,  and  to  petition  that  they  might  still  be 
permitted  to  retain  their  liberty  of  conscience ;  offering, 
moreover,  themselves  to  become  sureties,  that,  should 
he  be  prevailed  upon  to  spare  them,  they  would  never 


Francis  I  325 

in  any  way  endeavour  to  disturb  the  tranquillity  of  the 
state. 

Francis  received  these  deputies,  who  were  introduced 
into  his  sick-room,  with  great  haughtiness ;  and  the 
sole  reply  which  he  vouchsafed  was  to  the  effect,  that, 
as  he  never  interfered  with  the  national  legislature  of 
those  whom  they  represented,  he  begged  of  them  not 
to  intermeddle  in  his  own. 

The  levies  which,  by  virtue  of  his  office,  De  Meynier 
was  authorized  to  make  for  the  public  service,  joined 
to  the  local  militia  thus  raised,  formed  a  considerable 
force ;  which  was  augmented  by  a  troop  of  horse  under 
Iscalin,  who  had  been  recently  created  Baron  de  la 
Garde,  and  whose  services  in  Italy  had  rendered  both 
himself  and  his  men  callous  to  human  suffering,  and 
intolerant  to  all  who  rejected  the  Romish  tenets.  Nor 
had  De  Meynier  failed  to  inform  the  Popish  legate, 
Antonio  Trivulzio,  of  the  proposed  campaign ;  and 
from  him  he  received  a  further  reinforcement  of  a 
thousand  foot-soldiers  and  several  pieces  of  artillery. 

The  soul  sickens  at  the  record  of  the  foul  butcheries 
committed  by  this  horde  of  legalized  assassins.  As 
they  advanced  towards  the  nearer  villages,  the  inhabi- 
tants fled  in  terror  to  the  mountains,  leaving  their 
habitations  to  be  burned,  and  their  flocks  and  herds 
to  become  the  prey  of  the  spoilers;  those  who  from 
bodily  weakness  could  not  effect  their  escape,  were  cut 
down ;  and  soon  the  flames,  which  ascended  to  the  sky 
on  all  sides,  spread  the  alarm  in  the  more  distant  parts 
of  the  district.  In  like  manner  the  other  hamlets  were 
consecutively  abandoned,  pillaged,  and  finally  burnt, 
as  well  as  the  corn-stores,  and  such  trees  as  would 


326  Reign  of 

ignite.  No  resistance  was  offered ;  the  miserable  vic- 
tims, unprepared  for  such  an  attack,  sought  only  to 
save  themselves  by  flight ;  and  on  the  following  morn- 
ing De  Meynier  divided  his  troops  into  two  bodies, 
one  of  which  pursued  the  mountain  road,  while  the 
other  followed  the  course  of  the  river.  The  carnage 
that  ensued  was  frightful ;  many  of  the  fugitives  were 
encumbered  either  by  children  of  tender  years,  or  by 
aged  parents,  to  whom  they  clung  even  in  their  despair ; 
and  all  these  perished  miserably.  Neither  age  nor  sex 
proved  a  protection ;  and  horrors  were  committed  in 
the  face  of  day  which  cried  aloud  to  Heaven  for  ven- 
geance. 

Thus  was  this  army  of  extermination  engaged  until 
the  i8th,  when  it  reached  Mirandola;  but  the  once 
flourishing  town,  although  it  had  so  recently  been 
warm  with  life,  was  totally  abandoned,  save  by  a  poor 
idiot,  who,  while  wandering  through  the  deserted 
streets,  was  seized,  bound  to  an  olive  tree,  and  shot. 
At  Cabrieres,  on  the  morrow,  the  royal  army,  which 
was  to  secure  the  salvation  of  its  sovereign,  found  sixty 
men  and  half  the  number  of  women,  who,  still  trusting 
that  they  might  save  themselves  from  the  general 
slaughter,  made  a  show  of  resistance,  and  then  offered 
to  capitulate.  The  proposal  was  accepted,  and  they 
were  assured  that  their  lives  would  be  respected ;  but 
they  had  no  sooner  delivered  up  the  town,  than  they 
were  informed  that  no  terms  could  be  kept  with  her- 
etics, and  they  were  one  and  all  put  to  death. 

Nor  did  those  who  had  escaped  from  the  city  fail  to 
become  in  their  turn  the  prey  of  the  still  unsated  bar- 
barians.    Eight    hundred    of    the    male    inhabitants 


Francis  I  327 

perished  by  the  weapons  of  their  remorseless  enemies ; 
while  the  women  were,  by  the  orders  of  De  Meynier 
himself,  shut  up  in  a  barn  which  was  fired  from  with- 
out; and  whenever  a  poor  tortured  wretch  strove  to 
save  herself  from  the  flames  by  leaping  through  the 
solitary  window,  she  was  immediately  transfixed  by  a 
pike,  and  hurled  back  upon  the  reeking  pile. 

Suffice  it,  that  before  the  work  of  death  was  finally 
accomplished,  three  thousand  persons  had  shared  the 
common  fate,  while  a  yet  greater  number  were  still 
wandering  in  the  woods  and  among  the  fastnesses  of 
the  mountains;  but  the  agents  of  murder  were  soon 
upon  their  track,  and  they  also  successively  fell  into 
the  hands  of  De  Meynier,  who  selected  from  among 
them  six  hundred  and  seventy  of  the  younger  and  more 
vigorous,  whom  he  consigned  to  the  galleys,  where 
they  perished  miserably  within  a  few  weeks.  Upwards 
of  two  hundred  and  fifty  others,  after  having  been  sub- 
jected to  the  mockery  of  a  trial  as  heretics  and  traitors, 
were  executed ;  and,  finally,  a  proclamation  was  made 
that  all  individuals  convicted  of  harbouring  those  who 
were  still  at  large,  should  suffer  death ;  a  threat  which 
so  terrified  the  few  who  might  have  possessed  sufficient 
humanity  to  afford  shelter  to  the  miserable  fugitives, 
that  they  closed  their  hearts  and  their  homes  against 
them ;  and  with  the  exception  of  a  mere  remnant,  who 
succeeded  in  effecting  their  escape  to  Geneva  and  the 
Swiss  territories,  all  ultimately  died  from  famine. 
Twenty-two  towns  and  villages  were  annihilated ;  such 
crops  and  timber  as  could  not  be  destroyed  by  fire, 
were  torn  up  by  the  roots ;  and  the  flourishing  district 
which  had  been  for  so  long  a  period  the  garden  of 


328  Reign  of 

Provence,  was  in  a  few  short  days  converted  into  a 
desert  and  unpeopled  waste. 

With  the  exception  of  a  few  of  the  more  bigoted  of 
the  priesthood,  all  Christendom  concurred  in  regard- 
ing this  wholesale  and  unprovoked  butchery  of  an  in- 
offensive population  with  undisguised  and  genuine 
horror ;  but  Francis,  whose  increasing  infirmities  ren- 
dered him  more  than  ever  anxious  to  conciliate  the 
Church,  and  who  weakly  imagined  that  he  was  doing 
it  good  service  by  exterminating  its  enemies  with  a 
zeal  even  greater  than  that  of  the  Emperor  himself, 
subsequently  (on  the  i8th  of  August)  registered  his 
approval  of  the  carnage,  declaring  that  the  Vaudois 
had  only  received  a  fitting  chastisement  for  their  obsti- 
nate heresy. 

It  was  percisely  at  this  period  that  the  Dauphin  com- 
mitted an  act  of  imprudence  which  strengthened  the 
jealousy  and  dislike  that  the  King  had  long  evinced 
towards  him.  While  his  paternal  ambition  was  flat- 
tered by  the  brilliant  alliance  about  to  be  contracted 
by  the  younger  Prince,  (an  alliance  which  promised 
to  place  him  upon  a  throne  little  inferior  to  that  of 
France,)  and  his  vanity  was  soothed  by  the  conviction 
that  the  same  qualities  which  in  himself  had  excited 
the  jealousy  of  the  Emperor  in  his  youth,  had  tended 
to  attract  him  in  his  more  mature  years  to  the  Due 
d'Orleans ;  he  gloomily  remembered  that  the  Dauphin 
had  neither  aggrandized  the  dignity  of  the  crown  by 
his  espousals  with  Catherine  de'  Medici,  nor  increased 
the  glory  of  the  nation  by  his  arms.  The  open  and 
ardent  nature  of  the  Prince  Charles,  moreover,  which 
responded  to  that  of  his  father,  had  led  him  to  evince 


Francis  I  329 

towards  the  King  an  affection  and  gratitude  which 
were  never  exhibited  by  the  Dauphin ;  who,  long  ha- 
bituated to  consider  himself  as  an  object  of  suspicion 
and  distrust,  retorted  the  injustice  by  augmented  re- 
serve and  indifference.  The  personal  court  of  the 
King  was  the  chosen  resort  of  the  younger  Prince,  and 
many  of  his  closest  friends  were  members  of  his 
father's  household ;  whereas  the  Dauphin  formed  a 
circle  of  his  own,  wherein  figured  all  the  friends  and 
adherents  of  the  exiled  Montmorenci. 

It  was  when  surrounded  by  these  favourite  nobles 
that  he  was  betrayed  into  the  imprudence  to  which 
allusion  has  been  made.  The  banquet  to  which  he 
had  bidden  them  was  nearly  at  its  close,  and  the  potent 
Hungary  wine,  which  had  been  lavishly  supplied  to 
the  guests,  had  heated  more  than  one  brain,  and  quick- 
ened more  than  one  pulse.  The  conversation  of  the 
party  had  turned  upon  the  future;  and  the  Dauphin, 
believing  himself  to  be  surrounded  by  none  but  friends, 
began  to  explain  his  intentions  so  soon  as  he  should 
have  succeeded  to  the  crown ;  and,  finally,  he  declared 
to  each  the  office  which  he  had  determined  to  confer 
upon  him. 

So  interesting  was  the  conversation  to  all  parties, 
that  no  one  observed  the  presence  of  Briandas,  a  buf- 
foon of  the  court,  who,  however  vacantly  he  affected 
to  look  around  him,  gathered  up  every  sentence  of  this 
premature  and  ill-chosen  discussion.  Seated  in  the 
deep  recess  of  a  bay-window,  and  perfectly  motionless, 
he  retained  his  station  until  a  chorus  of  acknowledg- 
ments from  the  assembled  guests  convinced  him  that 
he  had  better  retire  as  unobtrusively  as  he  had  entered. 


320  Reign  of 

The  Pontiff  had  evinced  his  displeasure,  by  convoking, 
without  his  concurrence,  the  council  of  Trent,  which 
reversed  the  interim  granted  by  Charles  to  the  Protes- 
tants, while  at  the  same  time  he  openly  declared  that 
Francis  had  conferred  a  greater  benefit  upon  Christen- 
dom by  his  persecution  of  the  heretics,  than  injury  by 
his  momentary  alliance  with  the  Infidels.  He  had, 
moreover,  addressed  a  caustic  letter  to  the  Emperor, 
in  which  he  advised  him  to  refer  to  himself  all  the 
ecclesiastical  questions  in  which  he  had  hitherto  per- 
mitted his  imperial  diets  to  intermeddle ;  declaring  that 
he  alone  was  competent  to  decide  them,  and  threaten- 
ing him  with  his  vengeance  should  he  disobey. 

As  this  precise  measure  was  at  the  moment  that 
which  appeared  the  best  calculated  to  assist  his  own 
projects,  Charles,  instead  of  resenting  the  haughtiness 
of  the  Pontiff,  commanded  all  his  subjects  in  the  Low 
Countries  to  obey,  on  peril  of  their  lives,  the  bull  which 
had  been  issued,  and  immediately  to  discontinue  the 
practices  of  their  religion ;  but  the  Lutherans,  although 
they  dared  no  longer  worship  in  public  as  they  had 
for  some  time  been  permitted  to  do,  would  not  so 
lightly  abandon  the  faith  they  had  adopted ;  nor  was 
it  long  ere  Charles  ascertained  that  the  inhabitants  of 
Tournay  had  summoned  to  their  city  a  celebrated 
French  preacher,  called  Pierre  du  Breuil,  who  was  ac- 
customed to  perform  the  reformed  service  secretly; 
upon  which  he  caused  him  to  be  arrested  as  he  was 
returning  from  the  ramparts,  and  burnt  him  by  a  slow 
fire  in  the  great  square  on  the  19th  of  February. 

This  fearful  example  aroused  the  jealousy  of  the 
French  King,  who,  anxious  not  to  be  surpassed  in  zeal 


Francis  I  321 

for  the  Church  by  a  monarch  who  had  already  injured 
him  in  the  opinion  of  all  the  Romanist  Princes  by  his 
crusades  against  the  Infidels,  determined  in  his  turn, 
to  strike  a  decisive  blow  which  should  reinstate  him  in 
their  esteem,  by  exceeding  the  efforts  then  making  by 
his  rival. 

After  the  frightful  religious  persecution  of  the  nth 
century,  by  which  the  Albigenses  were  exterminated, 
a  few  of  the  Vaudois,  who  had  succeeded  in  effecting 
their  escape,  had  concealed  themselves  in  the  narrow- 
est and  most  secluded  valleys  of  the  Alps,  where,  by 
their  exemplary  industry  and  peaceful  demeanour,  they 
had  so  much  ingratiated  themselves  with  the  surround- 
ing nobles,  that  they  were  permitted  to  pursue  their 
agrarian  avocations  unmolested.  Thus  they  had  in 
time  greatly  increased  in  numbers,  and  while  the  rest 
of  Europe  was  engaged  in  war,  they  had  quietly  reared 
their  crops,  tended  their  herds,  and  made  many  a 
hitherto  barren  spot  smile  with  vegetation.  Their  life 
was  a  purely  pastoral  one ;  and,  although  occasionally 
disturbed  by  some  passing  persecution,  they  relied  so 
implicitly  upon  the  privilege  accorded  to  them  by 
Louis  XII,  who,  having  compelled  them  to  declare 
their  submission  to  the  Church  of  Rome,  granted  them 
free  permission  to  remain  unmolested  in  their  moun- 
tain-fastnesses, that  they  had  toiled  and  prospered, 
spreading  themselves  by  degrees  along  the  range  of 
the  Alps,  and  occupying  some  of  the  highest  points 
above  the  marquisate  of  Saluzzo.  Subsequently  their 
agricultural  skill  became  so  greatly  appreciated  that 
they  were,  towards  the  close  of  the  thirteenth  century, 
put  into  possession  of  a  confined  and  desert  district 
Vol.  III.— 21 


332  Reign  of 

wounded  by  the  indelicate  proceeding  of  the  Prince, 
that  it  was  only  at  the  expiration  of  a  month  that  he 
could  be  induced,  by  the  entreaties  of  the  whole  court, 
to  permit  the  Dauphin  to  appear  once  more  in  his 
presence;  nor  would  he  even  then  consent  to  receive 
him,  without  enforcing  the  condition  that  no  individual 
who  had  occupied  a  place  at  his  board  at  the  late  ill- 
omened  banquet,  should  venture  to  accompany  him. 

The  loss  of  Boulogne  had  deeply  mortified  the  King, 
who  felt  that  its  capture  had  been  a  disgrace  to  the 
French  arms  which  it  behoved  him  for  the  honour  of 
his  nation  to  efface;  and,  despite  the  fearfully  ex- 
hausted state  of  the  public  finances,  he  resolved,  if 
possible,  to  wrest  it  once  more  from  the  enemy. 
Aware,  however,  that  so  long  as  it  was  protected  on 
its  sea-ward  side  by  the  vessels  of  war  which  were 
stationed  in  the  port,  such  an  attempt  must  necessarily 
be  attended  by  great  uncertainty  should  he  rely  only 
on  his  land  forces,  he  determined,  while  marching  an 
army  to  its  rescue,  to  avail  himself  at  the  same  time 
of  the  services  of  a  fleet  which  he  had  recently  formed, 
and  with  which  he  proposed  to  attack  the  English  on 
the  high  seas;  or,  failing  in  this  attempt,  to  descend 
upon  their  coast  in  order  to  withdraw  them  from  his 
own,  and  thus  render  the  enterprise  less  hazardous. 

In  addition  to  this  precaution,  he  despatched  a 
strong  body  of  troops  to  Scotland  under  M.  de 
Lorges,*  to  the  support  of  the  Queen-mother,  who  was 

*  Jacques  de  Lorges,  Earl  of  Montgomery,  was  the  nephew  of  the 
Due  d'Aubigtiy,  whom  he  succeeded,  in  IMS-  'f  the  command  of  the 
Scottish  guard  of  Francis  I.  He  was  born  in  the  duchy  of  Orleans;  and 
was  one  of  the  ablest  soldiers  of  the  age.  Two  years  previously  he  had 
come  into  possession  of  the  earldom  of  Montgomery,   which  was  bis 


Francis  I  333 

anxious  to  protect  herself  against  the  power  of  Henry 
VIII.,  and  to  prevent  the  marriage  of  the  infant  Prin- 
cess Mary  with  his  son.  De  Lorges  had  instructions 
to  induce  the  Earl  of  Arran  and  the  Cardinal-Minister 
to  invade  the  frontier  of  Northumberland ;  a  mission 
in  which  he  was  so  successful,  that  he  had  no  sooner 
communicated  his  errand  than  he  was  authorized  to 
assume  the  command  of  the  Scottish  army,  amounting 
to  about  fifteen  thousand  men,  with  which  he  at  once 
marched  upon  the  frontier. 

Meanwhile,  the  French  fleet  had  assembled  in  the 
port  of  Havre,  and  the  command  of  the  expedition  was 
intrusted  to  d'Annebaut,  who  was  shortly  afterwards 
joined  by  the  Baron  de  la  Garde  with  the  war-galleys 
of  the  King,  which  had  previously  been  stationed  at 
Marseilles,  whither  he  had  himself  returned  imme- 
diately after  the  massacre  of  the  Vaudois.  The  arma- 
ment, exclusive  of  the  five-and-twenty  galleys,  con- 
sisted of  a  hundred  and  fifty  ships  of  various  sizes, 
most  of  them  trading  vessels ;  and  of  sixteen  trans- 
ports ;  several  Genoese  carracks  had  also  been 
procured  to  strengthen  the  fleet,  but  they  were,  un- 
fortunately, lost  at  the  mouth  of  the  Seine  from  the 
incapacity  of  their  pilots. 

The  preparations  on  land  were  equally  important. 
By  raising  strong  levies  of  lansquenets  and  Gascons, 
the  army  was  augmented  to  a  force  of  thirty-four  thou- 
sand infantry,  twelve  hundred  gensdarmes,  and  eight 

family  inheritance.  He  it  was  who  wounded  Ihe  King  with  a  burning 
log,  while  he  was  engaged  in  the  hazardous  pastime  of  besieging  the 
hotel  of  the  Count  de  Saint-Pol  at  Paris,  an  incident  which  has  been 
recorded  in  the  body  of  this  work.  De  Lorges,  as  he  was  constantly 
designated  in  France,  died  in  1559,  in  his  8ist  year. 


334  Reign  of 

hundred  light  horsemen;  and  with  this  formidable 
body  of  troops  Francis  resolved,  during  the  operations 
of  his  fleet,  to  attack  Guines,  lay  waste  the  Terre  d'Oye, 
and  reduce  the  garrison  of  Boulogne  by  famine.  The 
Terre  d'Oye,  whence  the  English  drew  their  supplies, 
although  inconsiderable  in  size,  was  extremely  fertile, 
and  abounded  in  pasture  and  cattle ;  it  was,  moreover, 
intersected  by  ditches  which  had  enabled  Lord  Lisle, 
to  whom  the  defence  of  the  city  had  been  intrusted, 
with  the  addition  of  a  few  redoubts,  to  defend  it  very 
efficiently;  while  the  fortified  town  of  Marcq,  which 
was  situated  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  district,  and 
surrounded  by  marshy  land,  was  strongly  garrisoned ; 
numerous  outposts  were  stationed  in  the  most  exposed 
positions ;  and  the  arrangements  of  the  English  gen- 
eral had  been  so  judiciously  made,  that  the  whole  force 
could  be  brought  to  bear  simultaneously  upon  any 
given  point  in  case  of  attack. 

By  the  commencement  of  July,  the  fleet  was  ready 
for  sea ;  but  before  its  departure  the  King  resolved  to 
visit  Havre  in  order  to  inspect  it ;  which  he  did  in  great 
state,  attended  by  the  whole  of  his  court.  The  novelty 
of  the  spectacle  so  delighted  the  royal  and  noble  ladies 
by  whom  he  was  accompanied,  that  Francis  decided 
upon  giving  a  banquet  on  board  the  Carraquon,  a  fine 
vessel  of  eight  hundred  tons  burthen,  carrying  a  hun- 
dred guns,  and  in  every  respect  the  most  efficient  ship 
of  his  navy.  Preparations  were  accordingly  made ;  the 
King's  cooks  and  sewers  were  embarked  two  days 
previously;  and  on  the  appointed  morning  numerous 
barges  lined  with  crimson  damask,  and  richly  cush- 
ioned, manned  by  the  most  skilful  sailors  of  the  fleet, 


Francis  I  335 

and  bearing  the  national  flag  at  their  mast-head,  con- 
veyed the  invited  guests  to  the  admiral's  ship.  As 
the  monarch  had,  in  deference  to  the  expressed  wishes 
of  the  court  ladies,  decHned  to  embark  under  a  salute, 
the  heavy  guns  of  the  Carraquon,  which  had  been 
prepared  for  this  purpose,  remained  loaded,  and  the 
embarkation  was  efifected  amid  no  other  demonstra- 
tion than  that  of  the  amazed  and  delighted  population 
of  the  town,  who  lustily  cried  "  Noel  "  for  their  King, 
as  they  feasted  their  eyes  upon  the  floating  plumes, 
jewelled  vestments,  and  brocaded  draperies  which 
passed  before  them,  glittering  in  the  sunlight  Hke  a 
fairy  pageant. 

A  temporary  canopy  had  been  erected  over  the  deck 
of  the  vessel,  beneath  which  the  tables  were  spread  with 
the  costly  viands  and  delicate  wines  prepared  for  a 
repast  which  was  not,  however,  destined  to  be  eaten ; 
the  officers  of  the  royal  kitchen  having  disregarded  the 
repeated  expostulations  of  those  about  them,  and  per- 
sisted, in  order  to  secure  the  perfection  at  which  they 
aimed  in  their  several  departments,  in  kindling  fires  in 
places  ill  adapted  for  such  a  purpose ;  an  imprudence 
which  was  fated  to  be  productive  of  a  frightful  catas- 
trophe. 

The  King  had  scarcely  assumed  his  seat,  having  on 
his  right  hand  the  Queen  his  consort  and  on  his  left 
the  Queen  of  Navarre ;  and  the  nobles  and  ladies  of  the 
royal  train  were  in  their  turn  respectively  engaged  in 
taking  possession  of  the  places  assigned  to  them  by 
the  court-usher,  when  flames  were  seen  to  issue  from 
below,  and  in  an  instant  all  was  horror  and  confusion. 
It  fortunately  chanced  that  several  of  the  barges  which 


336  Reign  of 

had  conveyed  the  monarch  and  his  suite  on  board,  had 
remained  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  vessel,  to  be 
in  readiness  in  the  event  of  any  of  the  august  party  re- 
quiring to  be  put  on  shore  before  the  termination  of 
the  banquet;  these  were  instantly  brought  alongside, 
and  the  King,  the  two  Queens,  and  all  the  ladies  of 
their  respective  courts  were  rapidly  conveyed  from  the 
vessel;  together  with  the  treasure-chest,  which  had 
been  destined  for  the  supply  of  the  fleet.  While  this 
hurried  embarkation  was  taking  place,  the  other  ves- 
sels in  the  port,  having  first  despatched  their  boats  to 
the  assistance  of  the  sufferers,  made  all  sail  to  escape 
from  so  dangerous  a  vicinity;  but  as  they  had  been 
unprepared  for  an  event  of  this  nature,  several  of  them 
were  unable  to  effect  their  object,  and  sustained  great 
damage  from  the  guns  of  the  Carraquon,  when  she 
shortly  afterwards  blew  up. 

Once  assured  of  the  safety  of  the  King,  d'Annebaut 
hoisted  his  flag  on  board  the  Maitresse,  now  become 
the  principal  vessel  of  the  fleet ;  re-embarked  the  treas- 
ure ;  and  having  repaired,  in  so  far  as  was  possible,  the 
injuries  sustained  by  his  ships,  at  once  put  to  sea.  On 
the  eighteenth  of  the  month  he  arrived  off  the  Isle  of 
Wight,  where  he  anchored  in  sight  of  the  English 
fleet,  and  despatched  the  Baron  de  la  Garde  with  four 
galleys  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy ;  by  advancing  to  St. 
Helen's,  he  was  enabled  to  do  this  so  effectually  as  to 
ascertain  that  it  consisted  of  sixty  large  vessels  of  war 
fully  manned  and  armed ;  and  he  had  just  finished  his 
survey,  when  he  discovered  that  fourteen  of  the  num- 
ber were  already  making  sail  towards  him ;  nor  was 
it  without  considerable  difficulty  that  he  escaped. 


Francis  I  337 

A  short  time  subsequently,  the  whole  fleet  was  in 
motion  with  a  fair  wind,  bearing  down  upon  the  French 
ships,  and  several  broadsides  were  fired  in  the  hope  of 
bringing  them  to  a  closer  engagement;  but  though 
d'Annebaut  returned  the  fire,  he  did  not  deem  it  pru- 
dent to  advance,  being  unacquainted  with  the  nature 
of  the  coast ;  and  thus,  although  the  cannonade  was 
continued  for  a  considerable  time,  little  injury  was 
sustained  on  either  side.  The  mortification  of  the 
French  admiral  was,  however,  excessive,  when  he  dis- 
covered that  the  Maitresse,  which  had  struck  on  leav- 
ing the  port  of  Harfleur,  was  so  seriously  damaged 
that  she  leaked  in  several  places,  and  was  wholly  un- 
serviceable; once  more,  therefore,  he  was  compelled 
to  transfer  his  flag  and  the  jeopardized  treasure  to  a 
vessel  of  less  calibre ;  while  the  disabled  ship  returned 
to  Havre  to  be  repaired. 

On  the  following  morning  a  dead  calm  enabled 
d'Annebaut  to  resume  the  engagement  with  his  galleys ; 
and  throughout  the  space  of  an  hour  a  brisk  fire  was 
maintained  on  both  sides.  Meanwhile  his  larger  ves- 
sels, profiting  by  the  tide,  were  enabled,  without  enter- 
ing the  channel,  to  approach  sufficiently  near  to  bring 
the  enemy  within  range ;  and  the  English  King,  who 
had  come  in  person  to  Portsmouth  to  watch  the  opera- 
tions of  the  hostile  fleets,  had  the  mortification  of 
seeing  the  Mary  Rose,  a  noble  ship,  carrying  seven 
hundred  men,  sunk  by  the  well-served  guns  of  the 
French.  This  was,  however,  the  last  triumph  they 
were  destined  to  achieve,  as  the  turn  of  the  tide  com- 
pelled the  galleys  to  make  a  precipitate  retreat,  during 
which  they  were  unable  to  return  the  fire  of  the  enemy. 
Vol.  III.— 22 


338  Reign  of 

by  whom  they  were  hotly  pursued;  they,  however, 
succeeded  in  securing  the  safety  of  the  main  fleet  by 
their  skilful  manoeuvring;  and  d'Annebaut,  convinced 
that  it  was  impossible  to  renew  the  attack  with  any 
prospect  of  advantage  while  the  English  remained  in 
their  present  position,  resolved  to  make  a  descent  on 
the  coast  of  Sussex,  in  order  to  induce  them  to  abandon 
it.  The  stratagem  proved  unsuccessful,  as  the  King, 
satisfied  that  they  could  not  possess  themselves  of  any 
important  point  of  the  coast,  all  of  which  were  care- 
fully defended,  suffered  them  to  land  unmolested  at 
Brighton  and  New  Haven,  where  they  destroyed  the 
huts  of  the  fishermen,  and  being  unable  to  do  any 
further  mischief,  re-embarked,  and  returned  to  the 
Portsmouth  roads. 

Enraged  by  the  immobility  of  the  English  fleet, 
which  persisted  in  retaining  its  position,  d'Annebaut 
next  determined  to  effect  a  landing  on  the  Isle  of 
Wight,  where  he  accomplished  his  purpose  with  equal 
facility ;  the  English  having  prudently  withdrawn  from 
it  all  that  could  render  its  capture  valuable.  A  few 
soldiers  and  about  a  hundred  peasants  alone  opposed 
the  disembarkation  of  the  enemy,  and  they  were,  after 
a  brief  and  useless  struggle,  overpowered;  but,  once 
in  possession  of  their  conquest,  the  French  were  at  a 
loss  to  decide  upon  the  use  to  which  it  might  be  ap- 
plied. A  council  was  held,  at  which  the  expediency 
of  retaining  possession  of  the  island  was  discussed, 
until  it  should  be  ransomed  by  the  surrender  of  Bou- 
logne ;  but  this  chimera  was  soon  abandoned,  when  it 
was  remembered  that  the  troops  who  must  be  left  to 
protect  it,  could  not  long  contend  against  the  force 


Francis  I  339 

which  would  be  brought  against  them,  denuded  as  it 
was  of  every  description  of  mural  defence;  and  this 
question  was  scarcely  decided  when  d'Annebaut  as* 
certained  that  a  considerable  reinforcement  was  ex- 
pected by  the  English  fleet,  a  piece  of  intelligence 
which  determined  him  to  return  to  France.  He  ac- 
cordingly abandoned  the  conquered  territory ;  and,  re- 
gaining his  ships,  set  sail  for  Boulogne,  whither  he  was 
followed  by  the  vessels  of  whose  advent  he  had  been 
apprised. 

Once  more  the  roar  of  cannon  pealed  over  the 
waves ;  but  after  a  brisk  and  well-sustained  fire  of  two 
hours,  when  the  hostile  fleets  were  at  too  great  a  dis- 
tance to  render  it  effectual,  they  eventually  separated ; 
d'Annebaut  returned  to  the  port  of  Havre,  and  the 
vessels  of  the  English  to  their  old  anchorage ;  and  so 
terminated  the  naval  contest  between  the  two  coun- 
tries, which,  although  it  had  been  productive  of  no 
result  to  either,  had  nevertheless  been  the  cause  of  an 
enormous  outlay  to  both. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Military  Operations  before  Boulogne — The  Comte  d'Aumale 
is  Seriously  Wounded — The  German  Levies  of  Henry  VIII. 
Arrive  at  Liege — Francis  I.  Opposes  Their  Passage — Death 
of  the  Due  d'Orleans — Invasion  of  the  Terre  d'Oye — A 
Treaty  of  Peace  is  Concluded  between  England  and  France 
— The  Emperor  Refuses  to  Cede  the  Duchy  of  Milan  to  the 
French  Crown — Francis  Strengthens  His  Frontiers — Death 
of  Luther — The  Emperor  Makes  War  upon  the  Protestant 
Princes — Horrible  Persecution  of  the  Lutherans  in  France — 
Francis  I.  as  a  Monarch  and  a  Man — Death  of  Henry  VIII. 
— Last  Illness  of  Francis  I. — Death  of  Francis  I. — The 
Chamber  of  the  Dauphiness — Accession  of  Henry  II. 

WHILE  the  French  fleet  had  been  engaged  in  its 
unsuccessful  expedition,  Francis  resolved,  in 
order  to  prevent  the  garrison  of  Boulogne  from  re- 
ceiving supplies  by  sea,  which  would  have  rendered 
the  devastation  of  the  Terre  d'Oye  comparatively  use- 
less, to  erect  a  fort  that  should  command  the  harbour. 
This  erection  was  entrusted  to  the  Marechal  de  Biez, 
who  held  the  command  in  Picardy ;  but,  through  the 
ignorance  of  the  engineer  who  selected  the  site,  it 
proved  a  complete  failure ;  and,  to  complete  the  an- 
noyance of  the  King,  as  it  was  about  to  be  roofed  in, 
the  English  garrison  made  a  sudden  sortie ;  and  after 
a  sharp  skirmish,  during  which  the  Marechal,  having 

340 


Francis  I  341 

had  his  horse  shot  under  him,  fought  on  foot  at  the 
head  of  his  troops  with  a  gallantry  that  for  a  time 
promised  to  prove  successful,  compelled  the  French 
troops  to  a  retreat,  which  they  did  not  effect  before 
they  had  sustained  considerable  loss. 

Shortly  afterwards,  De  Biez  was  informed  that  a 
convoy  was  about  to  pass  from  Calais  to  the  besieged 
garrison,  upon  which  he  established  his  camp  on  the 
height  of  St.  Lambert,  in  order  to  impede  its  arrival. 
Several  skirmishes  took  place  while  he  occupied  this 
post,  and  during  one  of  these  the  Comte  d'Aumale 
was  so  seriously  wounded  that  his  recovery  was  con- 
sidered almost  a  miracle.  During  the  affray  he  re- 
ceived So  vigorous  a  thrust  from  the  pike  of  an 
English  officer,  that  the  weapon,  which  struck  him 
between  the  nose  and  the  right  eye,  broke  off  short  in 
the  wound,  leaving  the  iron  and  a  portion  of  the  wood 
firmly  fastened  in  his  head.  Nevertheless,  the  young 
Prince  still  retained  his  seat,  and  in  the  extremity  of 
his  agony  dug  his  spurs  into  the  flanks  of  his  charger, 
which  galloped  furiously  towards  the  French  camp, 
where  he  was  immediately  lifted  from  the  saddle  and 
conveyed  to  his  tent.  The  operation  which  ensued  was 
a  formidable  one ;  but  the  Count,  by  his  firm  endurance 
of  the  consequent  suffering,  so  ably  seconded  the  skill 
of  the  surgeon,  that  in  a  short  time  he  was  declared 
convalescent. 

Meanwhile  the  troops  whom  Henry  VIII.  had  levied 
in  Germany  had  arrived  at  Fleurine,  a  village  near 
Liege ;  and  Francis,  in  order  to  prevent  their  further 
progress,  at  once  detached  three  divisions  of  his  army 
to  Guise,  Champagne,  and  Messieres,  to  cover  his 


342  Reign  of 

frontier.  They  then  demanded  a  passage  through  the 
territories  of  the  Emperor,  which  was  definitively  re- 
fused; and  thus,  finding  themselves  impeded  on  all 
sides,  after  having  been  detained  for  three  weeks  at 
Fleurine,  the  Germans  began  to  clamour  for  their  pay, 
and  their  demands  remaining  unsatisfied,  they  dis- 
banded themselves,  and  returned  home. 

Anxious  to  expedite  the  capture  of  Boulogne,  the 
King  soon  afterwards  arrived  in  person  at  the  Abbey 
of  Toret-Moutiers,  between  Abbeville  and  Montreuil, 
accompanied  by  the  two  Princes.  Unhappily,  the 
plague  was  then  raging  in  the  environs ;  and  the  Due 
d'Orleans,  dissatisfied  with  the  apartment  which  had 
been  prepared  for  him  in  one  of  the  houses  of  the  vil- 
lage, selected  another,  of  which  he  signified  that  he 
should  take  possession.  The  owner  of  the  dwelling 
endeavoured  to  dissuade  him  from  his  purpose,  by 
informing  him  that  it  was  rife  with  the  infection,  the 
last  three  persons  by  whom  it  had  been  occupied  hav- 
ing successively  died  there.  With  his  usual  reckless- 
ness, however,  the  Duke  adhered  to  his  resolution,  de- 
claring that  such  a  circumstance  could  not  aflfect  him, 
as  there  had  never  been  an  instance  of  a  Prince  of  the 
blood  falling  a  victim  to  the  pestilence.  He  accord- 
ingly passed  the  night  in  this  fatal  chamber;  on  the 
following  morning  unequivocal  symptoms  of  the  dis- 
ease betrayed  themselves ;  the  skill  of  the  physicians 
proved  powerless ;  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  days  he 
ceased  to  breathe. 

The  grief  of  the  King  was  excessive ;  his  ambition 
as  well  as  his  affection  had  been  bound  up  in  his 
younger  son;  and  the  Prince  had  no  sooner  expired 


Francis  I  343 

than  he  left  the  village  which  had  proved  so  fatal  to 
his  hopes,  and  established  himself  in  a  hamlet  at  the 
other  extremity  of  the  forest  of  Crecy. 

Whilst  Francis  was  still  absorbed  in  the  deep  and 
bitter  grief  by  which  he  had  thus  been  so  suddenly 
overwhelmed,  the  Marechal  de  Biez  announced  his  in- 
tention of  attacking  the  fortifications  erected  by  the 
English  in  the  Terre  d'Oye ;  an  enterprise  of  so  much 
danger,  that  it  was  no  sooner  publicly  known,  than 
crowds  of  the  youngj  nobles,  anxious  to  share  in  the 
honour  of  so  adventurous  an  attempt,  hastened  to  the 
camp;  and  the  Comte  d'Enghien,  newly  risen  from 
his  sick-bed,  the  Due  d'Aumale,  the  Comte  de  Laval, 
the  Due  de  Nevers,  and  M.  de  la  Tremouille,  were 
among  the  foremost.  The  principal  fort  was  attacked 
by  the  old  French  bands,  under  M.  de  Tais,  and  taken 
by  assault ;  when  the  victors  made  a  cruel  use  of  the 
success  for  which  they  were  indebted  to  their  superior 
numbers,  by  putting  the  whole  garrison  to  the  sword. 
M.  de  Brissac,  who  commanded  the  vanguard,  con- 
sisting'of  several  troops  of  gensdarmes,  all  the  light 
cavalry,  and  a  strong  force  of  foot-soldiers,  marched 
meanwhile  upon  the  town  of  Marcq;  but  he  had  not 
proceeded  more  than  half  a  league  when  he  encoun- 
tered a  body  of  two  thousand  English  who  were  ad- 
vancing to  the  relief  of  the  beleaguered  fort.  After  a 
desperate  resistance  these  also  were  defeated,  being 
unable  long  to  cope  with  so  unequal  an  enemy;  and 
as  no  further  impediment  presented  itself,  the  French 
troops  continued  to  advance,  pillaging  and  burning 
down  all  the  villages,  until  they  reached  the  gates  of 
the  town. 


344  Reign  of 

Here,  however,  they  received  a  check.  The  bridges 
which  had  been  prepared  for  the  passage  of  the  troops 
across  the  ditches  had  been  forgotten ;  torrents  of  rain 
rendered  the  environs  of  Marcq  one  wide  marsh ;  and 
they  were  reluctantly  compelled  to  retire  from  before 
the  walls  of  the  threatened  town,  in  order  to  secure 
their  own  safety. 

The  fortress  which  De  Biez  had  constructed  was, 
meanwhile,  finished ;  and  the  English  garrison  made 
continual  sallies  in  the  hope  of  taking  it ;  constant 
skirmishes  occurred  in  consequence,  which  involved 
a  serious  loss  on  both  sides,  but  no  decisive  result  en- 
sued; and  both  monarchs  began  to  weary  of  a  war 
which,  while  it  exhausted  their  finances  and  weakened 
their  armies,  could  not  terminate  favourably  for  either. 

The  energy  of  the  French  King  was,  moreover, 
shaken  by  the  calamity  which  had  befallen  him ;  he 
saw  the  noble  troops,  that  it  had  cost  him  so  much 
exertion  to  raise,  rapidly  perishing  alike  under  the 
weapons  of  the  enemy  and  the  attacks  of  the  insidious 
disease  which  had  reached  his  camp ;  he  foresaw  many 
difficulties  in  the  completion  of  a  new  treaty  with  the 
Emperor,  now  rendered  necessary  by  the  death  of  the 
Due  d'Orleans ;  and  he  became  morbidly  conscious  of 
the  failure  of  all  his  enterprises.  Under  such  circum- 
stances, therefore,  he  resolved  rather  to  enter  into  a 
negotiation  with  the  English  King,  than  to  persist 
longer  in  so  unavailing  a  contest. 

Nor  was  Henry  VHI.  less  anxious  than  himself  to 
terminate  the  war.  The  immense  outlay  which  it  had 
occasioned  could  produce  no  remunerative  return ; 
while  he  moreover  apprehended  that  the  absence  of  so 


Francis  I  345 

large  a  body  of  troops  might  occasion  him  much  em- 
barrassment, should  the  Scotch  army,  as  he  had  some 
reason  to  apprehend,  profit  by  the  opportunity  to 
invade  his  frontiers.  He  was  alarmed  also  by  the  atti- 
tude assumed  at  this  period  by  Charles  V,,  who  had 
convoked  his  council,  and  was  making  preparations 
for  a  war  against  the  Protestant  Princes  of  the  League. 
Aware  that  he  was  personally  as  obnoxious  to  the  court 
of  Rome  as  the  German  Reformers,  he  began  to  ap- 
prehend that,  should  the  Emperor  prove  successful, 
the  result  might  be  fatal  to  himself;  and  thus,  as  a 
French  courtier  wittily  remarked,  a  peace  might  be 
easily  negotiated,  one  monarch  being  anxious  to  secure 
it,  and  the  other  compelled  to  do  so. 

Commissioners  were  accordingly  appointed  on  both 
sides,  who  met  midway  between  Ardres  and  Guines ; 
and  on  the  7th  of  June,  1546,  a  treaty  of  peace  was 
signed  between  France  and  England ;  in  which  Henry 
VHI.,  after  some  difficulty,  consented  that  the  Scotch 
should  be  included,  provided  they  saw  fit  to  avail  them- 
selves of  it  within  the  space  of  thirty  days.  By  the 
conditions  of  this  treaty,  Francis  bound  himself  to  pay 
off  all  the  arrears  of  the  pensions  claimed  by  the  Eng- 
lish King,  and  to  continue  them  during  eight  years ; 
as  well  as  to  reimburse  him  for  the  expenses  of  the 
war,  amounting  to  the  sum  of  two  millions  of  golden 
crowns,  before  the  anniversary  of  St.  Michael  in  1554, 
at  which  period  Henry  VHI.  was  to  deliver  over  to 
his  officers  the  city  of  Boulogne. 

The  death  of  the  Due  d'Orleans,  as  Francis  had  fore- 
seen, afforded  a  new  opportunity  for  the  display  of 
that  selfish  policy  which  formed  so  prominent  a  feature 


34^  Reign  of 

in  the  character  of  the  Emperor.  At  the  close  of  the 
year  1545,  he  had  despatched  d'Annebaut  and  the 
Chancellor  Olivier*  to  Charles  to  engage  him  in  a  new 
treaty,  which  might  replace  that  of  Crespy;  but  they 
were  totally  unsuccessful.  He  felt  or  affected  a  deep 
regret  at  the  untimely  death  of  the  young  Prince  who 
was  so  shortly  to  have  been  his  son-in-law,  but  at  once 
declared  without  hesitation,  that  the  event  which  he 
deplored  had  released  him  from  all  his  engagements ; 
that  he  never  had,  and  never  would,  acknowledge  the 
claims  of  the  French  King  to  the  duchy  of  Milan, 
which  Francis  had,  moreover,  personally  renounced 
upon  two  separate  occasions ;  and  that  he  considered 
himself  perfectly  absolved  from  all  the  obligations  to 
which  the  treaty  of  Crespy  would,  under  other  circum- 
stances, have  bound  him ;  although  he  had  no  desire 
to  enter  into  renewed  hostilities  with  France,  unless 
he  should  be  compelled  to  do  so. 

With  this  ambiguous  reply,  the  baffled  ambassadors 
returned  to  court ;  and  Francis,  conscious  that  he  was 
not  at  that  period  in  a  position  to  enforce  his  demands, 
and  more  anxious  to  repel  aggression  than  to  provoke 
a  war  which  he  was  unable  to  sustain,  suffered  the 
declaration  of  his  wily  rival  to  remain  without  retort ; 
and  employed  the  remainder  of  the  year  in  inspecting 
and  strengthening  his  frontier-fortresses,  which  he  did 
so  effectually,  that  he  was  enabled  to  await  without 
apprehension  the  result  of  the  new  struggle  in  which 
Charles  was  about  to  engage. 

*  Frangois  Olivier  de  Lieuville,  a  talented  and  eloquent  magistrate, 
was  president  of  the  parliament  of  Paris,  when  Francis  I.  created  him 
Chancellor  of  France  in  1545.  During  tlie  reign  of  Henry  II.,  the  in- 
fluence of  Diana  of  Poitiers  deprived  him  of  the  seals;  but  he  was  re- 
called to  court  by  Francis  II.    He  died  in  1560. 


Francis  I  347 

The  death  of  Luther,*  at  the  commencement  of  this 
year,  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  Reformers,  and  an 
equally  great  source  of  rejoicing  to  the  Pope ;  although 
it  by  no  means  disposed  him  to  second  the  violent 
designs  of  the  Emperor  against  the  new  religion.  He 
was  well  aware  that  the  zeal  which  Charles  affected  for 
the  Church  had  in  every  case  been  made  subservient 
to  his  own  interests ;  and  he  considered  himself  ag- 
grieved, moreover,  by  the  fact  that  after  he  had  in- 
vested his  son  Pietro  Luigi  Farnese  with  the  duchies 
of  Parma  and  Placenza,  the  Emperor  had  refused  to 
recognise  or  to  ratify  his  sovereignty ;  and  conse- 
quently, even  when  he  entered  into  a  treaty  with  that 
monarch  for  the  extirpation  of  the  Reformers,  he  could 
not  divest  himself  of  a  distrust  which  rendered  him  less 
energetic  in  the  cause  than  he  might  otherwise  have 
been.  Charles,  with  his  usual  subtle  policy,  had  been 
anxious  to  keep  his  intentions  secret,  until  he  could 
overwhelm  his  victims  by  some  sudden  coup-de-main, 
a  desire  which  increased  the  suspicions  of  the  Pontiflf ; 
and  accordingly  he  had  no  sooner  pledged  himself  to 
assist  in  this  religious  war,  than  he  ordered  public 
prayers  to  be  put  up  in  Rome  for  the  success  of  the 
undertaking. 

Had  Francis,  at  this  period,  come  to  the  succour  of 
the  Protestant  Princes  whom  he  had  formerly  pro- 
tected, there  can  be  little  doubt  but  that  he  would  have 
been  enabled  to  ensure  his  kingdom  thenceforward 
from  all  attempts  at  aggression  on  the  part  of  the 
Emperor.     Many  of  those  about  him  endeavoured  to 

•  Luther  died  at  Eysleben,  the  place  of  his  birth,  on  the  i8th  of  Febru- 
ary. 1546.  aged  sixty-three  years. 


348  Reign  of 

convince  him  of  this  fact,  and  of  the  magnanimity  of 
assisting  the  oppressed,  who  were  about  to  contend 
not  only  for  their  rehgious  liberty,  but  also  for  that  of 
their  several  states,  by  which  alone  the  independence 
of  all  Europe  could  be  secured  against  the  insatiable 
ambition  of  Charles.  They  represented  to  him  that 
he  could  do  this  without  any  breach  of  honour,  as  they 
were  his  allies,  and  had  a  right  to  look  to  him  for  help ; 
that,  moreover,  his  interference  in  their  behalf  could 
not  aflfect  his  conscience,  inasmuch  as  the  Emperor 
had  declared  that  he  was  not  about  to  punish  them 
for  their  schism,  but  for  their  rebellion  against  his 
authority;  and  that  it  well  became  a  great  monarch 
to  uphold  the  cause  of  the  weak  against  the  strong. 

These  arguments,  however,  availed  nothing;  the 
languor  of  premature  old  age,  a  dread  of  increasing 
responsibility,  and  the  persuasions  of  the  Cardinal  de 
Tournon,  who  was  constantly  about  his  person,  ren- 
dered the  King  not  only  unwilHng  to  reply  to  the  ap- 
peal of  the  German  Princes,  but  even  incited  him  to 
renew  within  the  limits  of  his  own  kingdom  the 
atrocious  persecution  of  the  Reformists  which  had 
already  affixed  an  indelible  stigma  upon  his  reign. 

Once  more  the  stake  and  the  rack  did  their  deadly 
office;  inoffensive  citizens,  convicted  of  an  adherence 
to  Lutheranism,  were  seized  in  their  houses,  loaded 
with  chains,  put  to  the  torture,  and  finally  burnt  alive. 
A  few  were  suspended  by  their  armpits,  in  front  of  the 
pile  on  which  their  co-religionists  were  expiring  under 
a  slow  fire,  then  publicly  flogged,  and  finally  flung  into 
different  monasteries,  where  the  mind  dare  not  follow 
them ;  four  escaped  with  castigation  and  banishment ; 


Francis  I  349 

and  others  were  imprisoned  for  life.  As  some  of  these 
victims  of  intolerance  were  on  their  way  to  Meaux,  a 
weaver  of  their  own  persuasion  followed  the  wagon  in 
which  they  were  performing  their  melancholy  journey, 
and  exhorted  them  to  meet  with  faith  and  resignation 
all  the  sufferings  which  they  might  be  called  upon  to 
endure,  remembering  that  they  would  have  a  mighty 
and  abiding  reward  in  heaven.  He  did  but  add 
another  martyr  to  the  number.  He  was  seized  by  the 
archers  of  the  provost,  bound  with  cords,  and  flung 
into  the  vehicle  with  those  who  were  already  con- 
demned to  death. 

It  is  fearful  to  pursue  so  terrible  a  subject ;  but  the 
faithful  chronicler  has  no  alternative.  We  will,  there- 
fore, record  it  in  the  very  words  of  Theodore  de  Beze, 
in  his  Ecclesiastical  History,  Book  I.  pp.  51-53.* 

"  Arrived  at  Meaux,  they  underwent  the  extraordi- 
nary question  in  all  its  cruelty,  which  they  suffered 
with  such  resignation,  that  they  never  accused  any  of 
their  brethren.  On  the  7th  of  September  they  were 
led  to  execution,  the  tongue  of  Etienne  Mangin  having 
been  previously  cut  out,  notwithstanding  which  he 
thrice  exclaimed  loudly  and  intelligibly,  '  God's  name 
be  blessed ! '  He  was  then  drawn  upon  a  hurdle,  as 
was  also  Guillaume  le  Clerc,  the  rest  following  in  carts, 
to  the  market-place,  where  they  were  hoisted  up  and 
burnt  upon  fourteen  gibbets,  placed  in  a  circle.  Thus, 
face  to  face,  they  encouraged  each  other,  and  mingled 
their  prayers  and  praises,  which  were,  however,  in- 
terrupted by  the  priests  and  the  populace,  who  shouted 
aloud   like   madmen,   0  salutaris   hostia!  and    Salve 

•  Quoted  from  Sismondi. 


350  Reign  of 

Reghta.  This  accomplished,  on  the  morrow,  the  8th 
of  the  month,  Picard  (Doctor  of  the  Sorbonne),  in 
order  to  complete  his  triumph,  went  with  a  magnificent 
procession  to  the  spot  where  the  fire  was  still  smoulder- 
ing, preaching  under  a  canopy  of  cloth  of  gold ;  and 
said,  among  other  things,  after  having  displayed  great 
violence,  that  it  was  essential  to  the  salvation  of  all  to 
believe  that  these  fourteen  condemned  persons  were 
damned  in  the  bottomless  pit  of  hell ;  and  that  should 
an  angel  from  heaven  come  and  declare  the  contrary, 
they  must  reject  his  evidence,  as  God  would  not  be 
God  if  He  did  not  damn  them  to  eternity." 

We  dare  not  venture  to  comment  upon  such  a  pas- 
sage of  history  as  this;  but  surely  it  offers  a  fearful 
warning  to  after  ages.  Moreover,  the  pyres  which 
had  been  lighted,  and  the  racks  which  had  been  set  in 
motion  in  the  capital,  were  emulated  in  the  provinces ; 
many  other  victims,  and  some  of  these  men  of  exem- 
plary lives  and  high  literary  attainments,  fell  victims 
to  the  atrocious  persecution  which  disgraced  the  clos- 
ing reign  of  the  quasi-demigod  of  many  an  historian. 
The  "  chivalrous  Francis  I." — the  "  First  Gentleman 
of  France  " — the  monarch  whose  name  has  for  three 
centuries  been  as  a  landmark  of  glory  in  the  record 
of  the  French  annals — to  what  conviction  does  a  per- 
fect knowledge  of  his  real  character  lead  ?  Surely  but 
to  this :  that  he  was  vain  even  to  puerility  in  his  youth, 
sensual  even  to  profligacy  in  his  manhood,  and  bigoted 
even  to  brutahty  in  his  decline.  Conscious  of  his  own 
enormities,  he  took  refuge  in  a  cruel  superstition,  and 
sought  to  win  heaven  by  the  tears,  and  groans,  and 
agonies  of  his  fellow-men.     While  he  clung  to  his 


Francis  I  351 

vices,  feasted  with  his  mistresses,  laughed  at  the  ribald 
jests  of  his  obsequious  courtiers,  and  wrung  from  his 
exhausted  people  the  hard-earned  produce  of  their 
industry,  he  strove  to  blind  himself  with  the  belief  that 
all  would  be  forgiven  in  his  zeal  for  the  Church,  and 
that  his  own  transgressions  would  be  washed  out  in 
the  blood  of  his  sectarian  victims. 

It  has  been  the  fashion  with  modern  authors  to  pass 
lightly  over  this  frightful  episode  of  the  reign  of  Fran- 
cis I.  It  destroys  the  illusion  which  attaches  to  his 
name;  it  renders  him  less  attractive  as  a  sovereign, 
and  converts  the  splendid  sensualist  into  a  gloomy  and 
heartless  barbarian.  But  let  the  thinking  mind  fall 
back  upon  the  whole  chain  of  his  previous  career,  and 
its  close  will  scarcely  prove  matter  of  astonishment. 
The  morals  of  the  age  were  unhappily  lax ;  the  example 
of  the  most  exalted  of  the  priesthood  venal,  profligate, 
and  degrading;  religion,  even  by  the  several  pontiffs, 
made  subservient  to  expediency;  the  Cardinals  more 
celebrated  in  the  annals  of  gallantry  than  in  those  of 
piety;  the  ambition  of  the  great  nobles  confined  to 
personal  aggrandizement ;  and  the  bulk  of  the  people 
buried  in  ignorance  and  superstition. 

That  there  were  glorious  exceptions  in  all  ranks  is 
most  true ;  but  these  have  almost  universally  been  over- 
looked— many,  too  many  of  them,  altogether  forgot- 
ten. The  pure  gold  sinks  to  the  bottom  of  the  stream, 
while  the  more  worthless  dross  rises  and  sparkles  upon 
the  surface  of  the  current.  We  admit,  therefore,  that 
the  vices  of  Francis  may  find  some-extenuation  in  the 
character  of  the  age,  and  the  nature  of  his  education ; 
but  we  repeat,  that  those  who  have  recorded  only  the 


352  Reign  of 

brilliant  and  attractive  portions  of  his  career,  and  have 
wilfully  and  advisedly  buried  his  backslidings  in 
oblivion,  have  not  done  their  duty  either  to  themselves 
or  to  those  who  may  be  influenced  by  their  researches. 
The  flame  and  the  wheel  were  still  in  full  operation 
in  France,  when,  in  January,  1547,  news  arrived  at  St. 
Germain-en-Laye,  where  the  court  was  then  sojourn- 
ing, of  the  death  of  Henry  VIII. ;  an  event  which  pro- 
duced the  most  fatal  effect  alike  upon  the  moral  and 
physical  temperament  of  the  French  King.  He  had 
long  indulged  the  hope  that  Henry,  whose  rupture 
with  the  Emperor  had  rendered  it  necessary  for  him 
to  strengthen  his  position,  would  be  desirous  of  enter- 
ing into  a  closer  alliance  with  himself ;  while  at  the  same 
time  the  similarity,  not  only  of  their  ages,  but  also  in 
many  respects  of  their  several  characters,  combined 
with  a  consciousness  that  the  disease  under  which  he 
was  then  suffering  was  daily  becoming  more  virulent, 
filled  him  with  alarm.  He  felt  a  conviction  that  his 
own  end  was  approaching ;  and  he  became  nervous  and 
depressed.  He  commanded  that  a  solemn  funeral 
service  should  be  performed  at  the  cathedral  of  Notre 
Dame  in  honour  of  the  deceased  monarch,  a  ceremony 
which  took  place  with  great  pomp ;  and  then,  in  order 
to  divert  the  melancholy  that  was  rapidly  gaining  upon 
him,  accompanied  by  a  slow  fever  which  robbed  him 
of  all  rest,  Francis,  who  could  no  longer  brook  a 
moment  of  inaction,  removed  to  La  Muette,  a  country- 
house  which  he  had  recently  embellished,  on  the  bor- 
ders of  the  forest  of  St.  Germain.  There  he  sojourned 
for  a  whole  week ;  but  his  mind  was  in  so  unsettled  a 
state  that  he  could  not  long  remain  upon  one  spot ;  and 


Francis  I  353 

he  accordingly  proceeded  to  Villepreux,  where  an  in- 
crease of  his  fever  induced  him  to  travel  the  following 
day  to  Dampierre,  near  Chevreuse ;  and  thence  he  pur- 
sued his  way  in  order  to  pass  the  period  of  Lent  at 
Limours.  Throughout  the  whole  of  this  time  he  was 
accompanied  by  the  court,  but  even  his  favourites  now 
sought  in  vain  to  arouse  him  from  the  lethargy  into 
which  he  was  rapidly  falling.  Nowhere  could  he  find 
peace ;  and  after  having  spent  three  days  at  Limours, 
he  once  more  removed  to  Rochefort,  where  he  en- 
deavoured to  amuse  himself  by  hunting.  To  this  vio- 
lent exercise,  however,  his  strength  was  no  longer 
equal ;  and  every  evening  his  fever  increased  to  a  de- 
gree which  alarmed  those  about  him  so  greatly  that 
they  urged  his  return  to  St.  Germain-en-Laye. 

After  some  difficulty  the  physicians  succeeded  in 
obtaining  his  consent  to  this  measure,  by  representing 
that  he  could  travel  slowly,  and  indulge  in  his  favourite 
pursuit  by  the  way ;  and  he  accordingly  left  Rochefort 
for  Rambouillet,  where  he  had  decided  to  remain  only 
one  night;  but  the  game  proved  so  plentiful  and  the 
sport  so  exciting,  that  he  was  induced  to  change  his 
resolution.  Two  or  three  days  were  consequently 
spent  in  field  sports,  in  which  once  more  Catherine  de' 
Medici  participated ;  but  the  fever  of  the  King,  which 
had  hitherto  been  intermittent,  became,  by  reason  of 
this  perpetual  exertion,  continuous ;  and  his  malady 
increased  so  rapidly,  that  it  was  found  impossible  for 
him  to  proceed  further. 

Once  apprised  of  his  danger,  Francis  summoned  the 
Dauphin  to  his  sick-bed,  and  conversed  with  him  at 
intervals  for  several  hours ;  giving  him  the  most  whole- 
VOL.  III.— 23 


354  Reign  of 

some  advice  concerning  the  future  government  of  the 
kingdom  over  which  he  must  so  soon  be  called  upon 
to  rule ;  and  consequently,  like  many  other  monarchs, 
he,  in  this  supreme  moment,  gainsaid,  in  almost  every 
particular,  the  system  which  he  had  himself  pursued. 
He  recommended  him  to  diminish  the  public  taxes 
under  which  the  nation  was  then  groaning;  to  be 
guided  in  all  things  by  the  Cardinal  de  Tournon  and 
the  Admiral  d'Annebaut;  and,  above  all,  to  exclude 
from  his  confidence  the  Connetable  de  Montmorenci 
and  the  family  of  the  Due  de  Guise.  He  then  received 
the  sacraments  of  the  Church ;  and  his  persecutions  of 
the  Protestants  had  apparently  convinced  him  so  thor- 
oughly of  his  own  salvation,  that  he  expired  peace- 
fully, while  the  ashes  of  his  victims  were  still  floating 
between  earth  and  heaven. 

To  say  that  he  died  unregretted  would  be  to  assert  a 
fallacy.  Too  many  interests  were  interwoven  with  his 
existence  to  render  such  an  event  possible.  He  had, 
moreover,  during  the  later  period  of  his  life,  laboured 
to  replenish  the  national  treasury;  in  which  attempt, 
despite  the  enormous  outlay  consequent  upon  the  vari- 
ous wars  that  he  had  undertaken,  and  the  expensive 
character  of  his  court,  in  which  to  the  last  he  intro- 
duced no  retrenchment,  he  had  so  far  succeeded  as 
to  bequeath  to  his  successor  the  sum  of  four  hundred 
thousand  crowns.  But  his  death  was  not  accom- 
panied, like  that  of  Louis  XH.,  with  the  tears  and  re- 
grets of  his  subjects.  Three  great  events  alone  had 
signalized  his  reign — the  victory  of  Marignano,  the 
restoration  of  literature,  and  the  struggle  which  he  had 
sustained  against  Charles  V. 


Francis  I  355 

And  what  had  been  the  actual  result  even  of  these  ? 
The  glory  of  Marignano  had  been  quenched  at  Pavia ; 
at  which  period  his  reign,  as  affected  his  own  greatness, 
may  well  be  said  to  have  terminated ;  for  his  after-tri- 
umphs were  all  inconsequent  and  valueless.  He  never 
again  hazarded  his  personal  safety  in  an  open  en- 
gagement, although  he  was  rigorous  in  his  punish- 
ment of  those  through  whose  errors  or  want  of  courage 
he  failed  in  the  accomplishment  of  his  designs ;  and  it 
was  therefore  the  nation  which  fought,  and  bled,  and 
suffered,  not  its  sovereign.  He  invited  learned  men 
to  his  court ;  lured  them  thither  by  the  brightest  pros- 
pects and  the  most  extravagant  promises;  and  then, 
not  content  with  disappointing  the  hopes  that  he  had 
raised,  not  only  ceased  to  encourage  them  when  they 
no  longer  ministered  to  his  own  gratification  and  that 
of  his  favourites,  but  even  persecuted  them  for  their 
religious  opinions,  and  abandoned  them  to  the  stake, 
to  the  rack,  and  to  the  anathemas  of  a  bigoted  priest- 
hood. 

That  he  manfully  met,  and  boldly  opposed,  the  usur- 
pation of  Charles  V.  is  quite  true ;  but  to  what  abiding 
benefit  had  he  turned  this  opposition?  It  had  been 
throughout  rather  a  personal  struggle  than  a  great 
question  of  national  policy.  Charles  was  the  only  sov- 
ereign of  whose  prowess  he  was  jealous,  and  whose 
supremacy  wounded  his  pride  alike  as  a  sovereign  and 
as  a  soldier.  He  had  expended  milHons,  and  sacrificed 
a  fearful  amount  of  human  life,  only  to  leave  his  king- 
dom to  his  son  as  he  had  received  it  from  his  predeces- 
sor. He  had  gained  no  territory,  secured  no  advan- 
tage, realized  no  triumph.     It  is  certain  that  he  had 


356  Reign  of 

driven  the  conqueror  of  Germany,  Asia,  Africa,  and 
Turkey  from  his  kingdom,  but  it  must  also  be  remem- 
bered that  he  had  been  unable  to  arrest  his  march  even 
to  the  very  neighbourhood  of  his  capital. 

While  the  King  was  in  the  last  agony,  the  Dauphin, 
who,  whatever  might  be  his  failings,  was  endowed  with 
a  depth  of  feeling  which  caused  him  for  the  moment 
to  forget  all  his  real  or  imagined  wrongs,  cast  himself 
in  a  fit  of  bitter  grief  upon  the  bed  of  his  wife ;  while 
Catherine  de'  Medici  herself,  seated  upon  a  low  stool, 
remained  with  her  face  buried  in  her  hands,  like  one 
utterly  oppressed  by  sorrow ;  and  did  not  reply  to  his 
lamentations  by  a  single  syllable.  There  were,  how- 
ever, other  watchers  in  that  spacious  room,  as  anxious 
although  less  absorbed  than  either  the  future  sovereign 
or  his  wife.  The  one  was  Diana  de  Poitiers,  who  with 
flashing  eyes  and  hurried  step  traversed  the  floor,  list- 
ening to  every  sound,  and  awaiting  from  moment  to 
moment  the  announcement  which  was  to  make  her  a 
Queen  in  all  save  the  empty  name ;  and  the  other  was 
the  Comte  d'Aumale,  the  friend  and  favourite  of  the 
Dauphin,  who  in  his  impatience,  repeatedly  passed 
from  the  chamber  of  the  Dauphiness  to  the  ante-room 
of  the  dying  King ;  exclaiming  in  an  accent  of  undis- 
guised triumph  from  time  to  time,  "  The  lady-killer  is 
going!" 

Francis  finally  expired  on  the  31st  of  March,  1547, 
and  was  buried  with  a  magnificence  far  surpassing 
anything  which  had  yet  been  witnessed  in  France; 
eleven  Cardinals  assisted  at  his  obsequies,  and  the  cere- 
mony extended  over  two-and-twenty  days.  The  bodies 
of  his  two  sons,  the  Dauphin  Francis  and  Charles  Due 


Francis  I  357 

d'Orleans,  were  conveyed  to  St.  Denis  together  with 
his  own  ;  and  Henry  II.  succeeded  to  the  vacant  throne. 
Only  a  few  months  elapsed  ere  Montmorenci  was 
once  more  all-powerful  at  the  court ;  the  unhappy 
Queen,  under  the  protection  of  her  imperial  brother  in 
Spain ;  and  the  Duchesse  d'Etampes  an  exile  on  one 
of  her  estates.  The  baton  which  had  been  broken 
over  the  cofRn  of  Francis  I.  had  involved  more  changes 
than  that  which  placed  the  crown  that  he  had  worn  so 
proudly  upon  the  brow  of  his  surviving  son. 


Index 


Adrian  VI.,  Pope,  ii.  no,  ia6 
Agnadello,   i.   59 
Agrippa,  Cdrnelius,  ii.  318 
Alamanni,  Luigi,  iii.  27 
Alargon,  M.  d',  ii.  235,  256,  277 
Alba,  Duke  of  (see  Alva) 
Alcyat,  Bussy  d',  i.  98;  ii.  224,  231 
Aleandro,  Jeromio,  i.  300 
Alengon,   Due   d',    i.   37,    160,   181; 

ii.  156,  220,  223,  241,  242 
Alen^on,    Duchesse   d'    (see   Mar- 
guerite de  France) 
Allegre,  Yves  d',  i.  49;  ii.  189 
Alps,  i.  162 

Alva,  Duke  of,  i.  79;  ii.  254 
Amboise,   Bussy  d',   i.   98;  "•  224, 

231 
Amboise,  Card,  d',  i.  39,  44,  49,  66 
Amboise,  Clement  d',  ii.  221 
Angouleme,    Marguerite    d',   char- 
acter,  and   Francis'   love   for,   i. 
25,  36,   37   (see  further.   Margue- 
rite de  France) 
Anne    de    Bretagne,    youthful    at- 
tachment of  Louis  XII.  to,  i.  4; 
fancy  of  Charles  VIII.  for,  i.  7; 
ultimately  married  to,  i.  11;  grief 
at    Charles'    death,    i.    11;    new 
King    Louis    again   renews    suit 
and  wins,  i.   12;  married,  i.   14; 
childless,    jealous   of   succession 
of    Francis,    i.    14;    dislike    of 


mother,  i.  16;  establishes  house- 
hold of  ladies,  i.   19;  character, 
i.  22;  against  de  Gie,  i.  34;  urges 
Louis  to  placate  new  Pope  Leo 
X.,  i.  86;   dies,  i.   no 
Anne  de  France,  and  Louis  XII., 
i.  8;  after  rejection  of  affection, 
implacable  enemy,  i.  8 
Armagnac,   Marie  d',   i.  37 
Augsburg,  confession  of,  iii.   53 
Austria,    Charles  of    (see    Charles 
V.) 

B 

Bacon,  Lord,  i.   160,  227 
Barbarossa,   iii.   98,  263,   2-jt,  279 
Bayard,  i.  52,  58,  62,  67,  69,  94-98, 
100,  160,  164,  167,  172,  178,  181,  184, 
185;  ii.  56,  58,  69,  92,  177,  183,  192 
Baylwin,  Jean  Paul,  i.  48 
Bayonne,  Bishop  of  (see  Bellay) 
Beaujeau,  Mme.  de,  i.  10 
Beaurain,  Comte  de,  ii.  105,  106,  256 
Bedier,  Noel,  ii.  319 
Bentivoglio,  i.  48 
Bergamo,  i.  59 
Berguin,  Louis  de,  iii.  34 
Berri,   Duchesse  de,  i.   134 
Bier,  Sieur  de,  ii.  134 
Blois,  i.  41 

Bohemia,  King  of,  i.  4^ 
Boissy,   Artus   de   Gouffier,   i.   ij, 

136;  ii.  I,  II 
Boleyn,  Anne,  i.  118;  iii.  52,  95 


359 


360 


Index 


Boleyn,   Sir  Thomas,    i.    275,   304; 

ii.  13 
Bologna,  i.  48 
Bonneval,  i.  94 
Bonnivet,   Seigneur  de,   i.   22,   38, 

94.  136,  153.  159.  242,  268,  270,  283; 

ii.  7,  84,  106,  121,  130,  13s,  152,  173, 

218,  222 
Bontemps,  Pierre  de,  ii.  314 
Bourbon,  Connetable  de,   i.  21,  25, 

27,    134.    132,    176,   237;   ii.   23,    24, 

66,  81,  104,  105,  114,  122,   136,   149, 

168,    190,    227,    229,    233,    255,    259. 

264,  271,  303,  306 
Bourbon,   Susanne  de,  i.  21,   138; 

ii.  87,   103 
Bourg,  Antoine  du,  iii.  107,  iBi 
Boyer,  Bp.,  i.  300 
Brancas,  Mme.  de,  ii.  297 
Brandenbourg,    Marquis   of,   ii.   6 
Brandon,  Charles  (see  Suffolk) 
Brantome,  i.  38,  140,  241,  261;  iii. 

37.  86 
Bricot,  Thomas,   i.  42 
Brion,  Sieur  de,  i.  136;  ii.  134,  219, 

269;  iii.   129 
Brittany,   Duchy  of,  i.  10,  34,  126; 

ii.  327;  iii.  46-49 
Budee,  Guillaume,  i.   149,  251 
Burie,  M.  de,  iii.  157 


Caesar  Borgia,  Pope,  dissolves 
Louis  XII. 's  marriage  to  Jeanne 
de  France,  i.  13 

Calvin,  iii.  99 

Calvinmont,  M.  de,  iii.  5 

Canterbury,  ii.  18 

Cardona,  Raymond  de,  i.  68,  t68 

Castiglione,  Balthasar,  iii.  8,  68 

Cellini,  Benvenuto,  iii.  233 

Chabannes,  Jacques  de,  i.  22 

Chabannes,  Jean  de,  i.  21 

Chabot,  Brian,  ii.   156 

Chabot,  Philip,  i.  136 

Chalons,  Phillibert  de  (Orange), 
ii.  306 


Chambord,   ii.  313 

Charles  V.,  i.  37,  141,  288;  ii.  6,  17, 
38,  91,  127,  170,  237,  252,  261,  26s, 
273.  276,  328;  iii.  4,  7,  12,  37,  58, 
96,  119-34.  144.  IS'.  167,  187,  196, 
204-15,  242,  266,  272,  283,  300-306 

Charles  VIII.,  secluded  by  father, 
i.  6;  his  betrothal  to  Margue- 
rite of  Austria,  i.  6;  fancy  for 
Anne  de  Bretagne,  i.  7;  dis- 
misses Marguerite  of  Austria  to 
Flanders,  i.  9;  hurt  head  against 
door,  death-blow,  i.  11;  died  at 
twenty-eight,  i.   12 

Charles,  Prince,  ii.  144;  iii.  108,  120 

Charlotte,   Princess,   i.   278 

Chateaubriand,  Comte  de,  i.  214, 
218,  225;  ii.  248 

Chateaubriand,  Comtesse  de  (see 
Frangoise  de  Foix) 

Chatillon,   M.   de,   i.   276;  ii.   66 

Chaumont,  M.  de,  i.  49,  58 

Cheyne,  Sir  Thomas,  ii.  129 

Chievres,  M.  de,  i.  141,  204,  206, 
208,  288;  ii.   2,  14 

Chinon,  i.   14 

Claude  de  France,  i.  39,  44,  iii, 
139,  140;  ii.  21,  31,  122,  136,  202 

Clement  VII.,  Pope,  ii.  47,  89,  205, 
253.  266,  301,  307,  321-28;  iii.  39, 
51.  56,  63,   74.  82,  95,  96 

Clermont  d'Anjou,  i.  98;  ii.  233 

Cloth  of  Gold,  Field  of,  ii.  24 

Colonna,  Antonio,  i.  210 

Colonna,  Fabrizio,  i.  68,   70 

Colonna,  Mutio,  i.  174 

Colonna,   Pompero,  Card.,  ii.   301 

Colonna,  Prosper,  i.  163;  ii.  69,  76, 
92,   135.  235 

Commines,  Sire  de,  i.  10 

Concordat,  i.  249 

Cop,  Guillaume,  i.  251 

Cordova,  Gonsalvo  di,  i.  54 

Cousin,   ii.  3,  315 

Crequi,  Antonio  de  (see  Pont- 
dormy) 

Croi,  Adrien  de  (see  Beaurain) 

Croy,  G.  de,  i.  44 


Index 


361 


D'Aerschott,  Due,  ii.  133 
D'Albert,  Jean,  i.  78,  79 
D'Alviano,  i.  58,  87,  i8i 
D'Andelot,  ii.  225 
Danes,  Pierre,  i.  251 
D'Annebaut,  iii.  310 
D'Ars,  Sieur  Louis,  j.  70 
D'Aubigny,  i.  58,  145;  >«•  128,  210 
Dauphin,  as  hostage,  ii.  284;  freed, 

iii.  19,  48,   136 
D'Auton,  Bp.,  ii.  153 
D'Avalos,   Alphonso,   ii.   217,   268; 

iii.    173,    178,    236,    237,   240,    249, 

290-98 
D'Avalos,  Ferdinand  (see  Pescara) 
Da  Vinci,  Leonardo,  i.  250;  ii.  2 
De  Biez6,  Louis,  ii.  133,  159,  248 
De  Ceri,  Lorenzo,  ii.  199 
Declaration  of  war,  ceremony  of, 

iii.  3 
De  Daillon,  Jacques,  ii.  123 
D'Emery,  Sieur,  ii.  43 
D'Este,  Alphonso,  i.  71 
D'Etampes,    Duchesse   (see   Anne 

de  Pissleu) 
De  Fiennes,  Marquis,  ii.  133 
D'Herbouville,  Mdlle.,  ii.  175 
De  Lorges,  ii.  184;  iii.  332 
De  Lude,  Comte,  ii.  123,  125 
De  Velley,  Sieur  de,  iii.  119-21 
Diana  of  Poitiers,  ii.  137,  166,  247, 

31s;  iii.  87,  163,  356 
Diesbach,  Jean  de,  i.  170 
Doria,  Andrea,  ii.  244,  258;  iii.  135, 

143.  244 
Dorset,  Marquis  of,  i.  78;  ii.  24 
D'Orval,  Seigneur  Albret,  i.  283 
Du  Bellay,  Jean,  iii.  3,  29,  78,  99 
Du  Chatel,  Pierre,  i.  251 
Dunois,  Comte  de,  i.  8 
Duprat,   Antoine,  i.    136,   156,   260; 

ii.    II,   23,   S3,    103,    121,   291,    302, 

308,  310;  iii.  18,  29,  36,  47,  107 
D'Urbino,  Due,  ii.  301,  303;  iii.  120 
D'Usez,  Duchesse,  ii.  312 


Eleanora  of  Austria,  i.  112;  ii.  106, 
253.  272,  282;  iii.  17,  19-25,  83,  90, 
201-203 

Ely,  Bp.  of,  i.  27s 

England,  Mary  and  Elizabeth  of, 
declined  marriage  to  Charles 
VIII.,  i.  6  (see  Henry  VIII.  and 
Wolsey) 

Erasmus,  i.  253;  iii.  32 


Fabri,  Jacques,  ii.  247 

Faenza,  i.  48 

Farel,  Guillaume,  ii.  247 

Ferdinand  the  Catholic,  i.  41,  141 

Ferdinand,  King  of  Rome,  iii.  52, 

73 
Feronniere,  la  belle,  iii.  192 
Ferrara,   Duke  of,  i.  61 ;  iii.  39 
Fleuranges,    Seigneur    de,    i.    92, 
174,  186,  283,  285,  290,  294;  ii.  20, 
30,  45.  133;  iii-  157.  181 
Foix,  Adet  de,  i.  72 
Foix,  Catherine  de,  i.  78 
Foix,     Frangois    de     (Chateaubri- 
and), i.  213,  217;  ii.  73,  114,   121, 
144,  247,  28s,  291,  31s 
Foix,  Gaston  de,  i.  58,  66,  72 
Foix,  Germaine  de,  i.  21,  41,  54,  291 
Foix,  Jean  de,  i.  41 
Foix,  Lescun  de,  i.  266;  ii.  49,  79, 

99,  224,  231 
Foix,  Lespaire  de,  ii.   12 
Folle,  Jeanne  la,  i.  45 
Fontarabia,   siege  of,   ii.   124 
Fontrailles,  Sieur  de,  i.  94,  96 
Francis    I.,    succession    of,    i.    i; 
birthplace,  i.  14;  early  life,  i.  14; 
betrothed  to  Claude,  i.  44;  com- 
mands Louis  XII. 's  army  to  as- 
sist King  of  Navarre,   i.  80;  in- 
trigue   with    advocate's    wife,    i. 
84;      commands     Louis     XII. 's 
army    against    Henry   VII.    and 


362 


Index 


Emperor,  i.  104;  relations  with 
Queen  Mary,  i.  122;  succeeds  to 
crown,  i.  126;  enters  Paris,  i.  131; 
arbitrarily  ideal,  i.  133;  bravely 
killed  wild  boar,  i.  139;  would 
not  give  up  design  upon  Milan, 
i.  143;  prepares  to  march  against 
Swiss,  i.  147;  organizes  army,  i. 
152;  mother  Regent,  i.  157; 
crosses  Alps,  i.  162;  at  Marig- 
nano  battle,  gallantly  attacks 
Swiss,  i.  177;  knighthood  from 
Bayard,  i.  183;  sees  Leo  X.,  i. 
igi ;  refuses  title  of  Emperor  of 
the  East,  i.  196;  domestic  life,  i. 
211;  birth  of  Dauphin,  i.  226; 
quarrels  with  Parliament  of 
Paris,  i.  246;  wishes  friendship  of 
Henry  VIII.,  i.  277;  desires  Em- 
perorship, i.  286;  defeated,  ii.  7; 
again  wishes  English  friendship, 
ii.  13;  Field  of  Cloth  of  Gold,  ii. 
28;  war  with  Charles  V.,  ii.  85; 
Milan  expedition,  ii.  91;  sus- 
pects Bourbon,  ii,  139;  proceeds 
against  him,  ii.  173;  loses  Bay- 
ard, ii.  192;  loses  Claude,  ii.  202; 
marches  personally  against  Mi- 
lan, ii.  205;  taken  prisoner  at 
Pavia,  ii.  226;  Regent's  treaty 
with  England,  ii.  252;  Charles 
V.'s  terms,  ii.  256;  his  answer, 
ii.  237;  fever,  ii.  262;  taken  to 
Madrid,  attempts  escape,  ii.  277; 
signs  treaty  with  Emperor,  ii. 
281;  betrothed  to  Queen  Eleo- 
nora,  ii.  283;  freed,  ii.  284;  Holy 
League,  ii.  288;  combines  with 
Henry  VIII.  and  sends  army  to 
Milan,  ii.  328;  war  against 
Charles  V.,  iii.  4;  Charles  V. 
challenges  to  duel,  obviated  by 
Francis,  iii.  11;  negotiates  with 
Charles  V.,  iii.  19;  Dauphin 
freed,  iii.  19;  married  to  Eleo- 
nora,  iii.  19;  wishes  to  establish 
a  Royal  College,  Duprat  dis- 
suades, iii.  26;  measures  against 


Lutherans,  iii.  35;  loses  mother, 
>>'•  43;  gains  wealth,  iii.  44; 
wishes  to  annex  Brittany,  iii. 
45 ;  Bretons  resist,  iii.  46;  Dau- 
phin made  Duke  of  Brittany, 
iii.  48;  again  meets  Henry 
VIII.,  iii.  55 ;  sham  agreement 
to  fight  Turks,  iii.  59;  plan 
against  Pope,  iii.  61;  Pope 
wishes  to  meet,  iii.  64;  agent 
murdered  in  Italy,  iii.  72;  meets 
Clement  VII.,  iii.  76;  who  mar- 
ries Due  d'Orleans  to  Catherine 
de'  Medici,  iii.  81;  description  of 
female  court  of  Francis,  iii.  83- 
94;  again  war  against  Charles 
v.,  iii.  97;  abolishes  printing 
throughout  kingdom,  iii.  103; 
repudiates  treaty  of  Madrid,  iii. 
126;  Saluzzo  goes  over  to  Em- 
peror, iii.  133;  loses  Dauphin,  iii. 
137;  defeats  Charles  V.,  iii.  151; 
cites  him  to  appear  as  vassal  be- 
fore French  tribunals,  iii.  166; 
marches  on  Milan  in  person,  iii. 
174;  truce,  iii.  178;  Charles  V. 
wants  permanent  peace  because 
of  fear  of  Turks,  iii.  179;  la  belle 
Feronniere,  iii.  190;  Charles 
V.  asks  safe-conduct  through 
France,  and  is  granted  it,  iii.  195; 
great  banquet,  iii.  207;  Charles 
V.'s  falseness  sours  Francis,  iii. 
214;  dismisses  Montmorenci,  iii. 
218;  resolves  to  declare  war 
against  Charles,  iii.  255;  Ro- 
chelle  revolts  against  salt  tax, 
iii.  236;  Francis  addresses  them 
in  memorable  speech,  iii.  258; 
persecutes  Lutherans,  iii.  260; 
war  with  Charles  drags  on,  iii. 
266;  joins  forces  with  Turks, 
iii.  276;  unsuccessful,  iii.  281; 
Charles  V.  and  Henry  VIII.  in- 
vade France,  iii.  298;  they  march 
on  Paris,  iii.  313;  peace,  iii.  314; 
is  vexed  by  son  Henry's  disre- 


Index 


363 


apect,  iii.  331;  peace  with  Henry 
VIII.,  iii.  344;  atrociously  per- 
secutes  Reformers,  iii.  348;  af- 
fected by  Henry  VIII. 's  death, 
fell  into  lethargy,  and  died  not^ 
so  loved  as  Louis  XII.,  iii.  354 

Franget,  Captain,  ii.  125 

Frederick  of  Saxony,  ii.  S 

Frundsberg,  ii.  305 

Furstemberg,    Count   William  de, 
ii.  125;  iii.  IDS,  3U 


Henry,  Prince,  iii.  114,  144 
Hesse,  Landgrave  of,  i.  293 
Holy  League,  i.  66;  ii.  288 


Imbercourt,  Marquis  d',  i.  94,  159, 

160,  182 
Isabella  of  Spain,  death  of,  i.  41 
Iscalin,  Paulin,  iii.  262,  274 


Gaillart,  Louis,  i.  269 

Gattinara,  Mercuric,  ii.  26a 

Genoa,  i.  50,   148 

Genouilhac,  ii.  215 

German  Electors,  i.  280 

German    Emperorship,    i.    287;    ii. 

I,  S 
Ghibberti,  Matteo,  ii,  208  , 

Gouiffier,  G.,  i.  22 
Grandvelle,  Perenot  de,  iii.  6,  309 
Grignaud,  M.  de,  i.  122 
Gritti,  Andreo,  ii.  99 
Guasto,  Marquis  de  (see  D'Avalos, 

Alphonso) 
Gueldres,  Due  de  (see  Robert  de 

la  Mark) 
Guise,   Claude  de,   i.   i6o;  ii.   171, 

24s;  iii-  SS 
Guistiniani,  Demetrius,  i.  53 
Guojon,  Jean,  ii.  314 

H 

Hallwin,  Louis  de,  i.  94 

Haye,  M.  de  la,  i.  244 

Heilly,  Mdlle.  de  (see  Anne  de 
Pisseleu) 

Henry  VII.  of  England,  i.  36 

Henry  VIII.  of  England,  i.  66,  93, 
95,  101,  109,  113,  131,  144,  197,  2S3, 
354,  268,  283,  285,  304;  ii.  8,  17,  23, 
29i  32,  91,  106,  127,  251,  286,  307, 
322;  iii.  2,  55,  70,  95,  159,  266,  299, 
306,  313,  341.  344.  34S,  352 


James  IV.  (Scots),  i.  109 

James  V.   (Scots),  iii.  158 

Jamets,  Seigneur  de,  i.  92,  147,  294 

Janet,  ii.  3 

Jeanne  de  France,  i.  4;  faithfully 
succors  her  husband  Louis 
XII.,  i.  9;  divorced,  for  him  to 
marry  Anne  de  Bretagne,  i.  13; 
retires  to  Bourges,  i.  13;  died 
1504,  blessed  by  the  poor,  i.  14 

Jerusalem,  Knights  of,  ii.  112 

Julius  II.,  Pope,  i.  47,  48,  56,  87; 
dies,  i.  88 

K 

Katharine  of  Aragon,  ii.  31,  325; 
iii.  4.  SI.  95,  96 


La  Crote,  i.  58 

Lodeve,    Comte   Clermont    de,    ii. 

278 
La  Fayette,  i.  94,  98;  ii.  258 
La  Motte,  des  Moyers  de,  ii.  227 
La  Rochelle,  iii.  258 
Launoy,    Charles   de,    ii.    175,   227, 

229,  288 
Lautrec,   Sieur  de,  i.  73,   136,   161, 

170,  235,  239,  262;  ii.  75,  103,  153, 

284,  328;  iii.  13 
Lenoncourt,  Robert  de,  i.  127 
Leo   X.,    Pope,   i.   68,   88,   89,    148, 

190.  255,  282,  300;  ii.  10,  45,  53,  80 


3^4 


Index 


Leyva,  Antonio  de,  ii.  206,  224,  266, 
290;  iii.  6s,  72,  134 

Limoges,  ii.  3 

L'Isle  Adam,  Villiers  de,  ii.  42 

Livry,  Hermit  of,  ii.  246 

Loches,  i.  14;  ii.  152 

Longueville,  Due  de,  i.  58,  79,  98, 
114,  117;  ii.  loi 

Lorraine,  Card,  de,  iii.  90,  128,  129, 
179.  233 

Lorraine,  Due  de,  i.  138,  178,  228, 
295;  ii.  197,  231 

Louis  XI.,  i.  6 

Louis  XII.,  death  of,  i.  1;  ehar- 
acter,  i.  2;  harsh  imprisonment 
at  St.  Aubin,  i.  8;  revenge  of 
Anne  de  Franee,  i.  8;  marries 
Anne  de  Bretagne,  i.  19;  great 
deference  to  Anne  de  Bretagne, 
i.  22;  illness,  i.  30;  war  with  Holy 
League,  i.  66;  assists  King  of 
Navarre,  i.  79;  allies  with  Venice, 
i.  86;  wishes  peace  with  new 
Pope  Leo  X.,  i.  88;  repelled, 
again  marches  army  into  Italy, 
i.  89;  fleet  captures  Genoa,  i.  90; 
friendship  with  English,  i.  94; 
dislikes  treaty  with  Swiss,  i. 
108;  makes  treaty  of  Orleans,  i. 
X09;  loses  Anne  de  Bretagne,  i. 
no;  betrothal  to  Mary  of  Eng- 
land, i.  no;  married  by  proxy, 
i.  117;  and  at  Abbeville,  i.  119; 
dies,  i.  125 

Louise  de  Savoie,  i.  15,  133,  157, 
158,  223,  233,  240,  2yT,  291,  296, 
299;  ii-  9.  36,  43.  67.  70.  82,  103, 
118,  129,  201,  20s,  239,  242,  252, 
254,  283,  292,  309,  318;  iii.  16,  41, 
42,  43 

Louise,  Princess,  i.  140,  207, 
278 

Loyola,  Ignatius,  ii.  49 

Ludovie  the  Moor,  i.  76 

Luther,  Martin,  i.  256;  ii.  45;  iii. 
347 

Lutherans,  iii.  a6i 

Luxembourg,  Charles  de,  i.  40 


M 

Mantua,  Marquis  of,  i.  6t;  ii.  155, 

17s 
Maraviglia,   iii.   66-69 
Marguerite  of  Austria,  i.  s,  9,  112; 

iii.  16,  44 
Marguerite  de  France  (Valois),  i. 

>34.  153;  ii-  146,  152,  241,  246,  257, 

259,  266,  268,  269,  273-82,  285,  298, 

32s,  326;  iii.  84 
Marguerite,  Princess,  iii.  161 
Marignano,   battle  of,  i.  184 
Mark,  Robert  de  la  (Gueldres),  i. 

S8,  91,   160,   170,  294,  301,  303;   ii. 

43.  45.  SI,  282 
Marot,    Clement,    ii.    10,    165,   246; 

iii.  32 
Mary  of  England,  i.  i,  114,  122,  130 
Mary,   Princess,  ii.  34,  54,  91,  251; 

iii.  2 
Mary,  Queen  of  Scots,  iii.  267 
Maximilian  of  Austria,  i.  s,  60,  95, 

188,  280,  281,  284 
Mayence,  Arbp.  of,  ii.  3 
Medicis,  Alessandro  de',  iii.  107 
Medicis,  Card,  de',  ii.  88 
Medicis,  Catherine  de',  iii.  108,  253, 

254.  3S6 
Medicis,  Giulio  de',  i.   76 
Medicis,   Lorenzo  de',  i.    iso,   168, 

230,  277 
Mezieres,  Baron  de,  i.  107 
Milan,  Duchy  of,  i.  141 
Molert,  Seigneur  de,  i.  s8 
Moncada,  Ugo  de,  i.  30s;  ii.  290, 

301 
Montecuculli,  Count  Sebastian  de, 

iii.  137 
Montejan,  M.  de,  iii.  13s,  179 
Montmoreau,   Seigneur  de,  ii.  56, 

60 
Montmorency,  Anne  de,  i.  137;  ii. 

56,   13s.  217,   242,   258;  iii.    11,   18, 

56,  90,   143,  167,  181,  193,   197,  213, 

215,  219,  22s,  330.  357 
Montpensier,      Charles     de      (see 

Bourbon,   Connetable  de) 


Index 


365 


Montpezat,  M.  de  (see  Prez) 
More,  Sir  Thomas,  ii.  323 
Moreto,  Comte  de,  i.  161,   165 
Morone,  Jeromio,  ii.  265,  266,  267 
Mottino,  i.  92 

N 

Naples,  i.  41 

Nassau,  Comte  Henry  de,  i.  142; 
ii-  55 

Navarre,  King  of,  ii.  47,  232 

Navarre,  Queen  of  (see  Margue- 
rite de  France) 

Navarro,  Pietro  de,  i.  69,  149,  159, 
161;  ii.  92,  100,  303;  iii.  14 

Nemours,  Due  de  (see  GaEton  de 
Foix) 

Neuville,  Nicholas  de,  ii.  9 

Norfolk,  Duke  of,  ii.  23,  171;  iii. 
55.  299 

Novara,  battle  of,  i.  93 

Novi,   Paul  de,  i.  ji 

Noyon,  Peace  of,  i.  208 

O 

Odet,  Captain,  i.  58 
Orleans,  Due  d',  iii.  120,  343 
Orleans,  Treaty  of,  i.  109 
Osma,  Bp.  of,  ii.  253 


Paix  des  Dames,  iii.  17 
Falassis,  Bernard,  iii.  50 
Palice,  Marquis  de  la,  i.  58,  77,  80, 

94,  97,  98,  136,  159;  ii.  66,  124,  220 
Pallavicini,  Cristiforo,  ii.  74 
Paluda,  Marquis  de,  i.  71 
Pampeluna,  siege  of,  i.  80;  ii.  49 
Paris,  disorderly,  ii.  317,  321 
Parliament  of  Paris,  i.  244,  246;  ii. 

is8,  245,  308,  309 
Paul  III.,  Pope,  iii.  96,  128,  i8e 
Pavanes,  Jacques,  ii.  246 
Pavia,  battle  of,  ii.  221 
Pechy,  Sir  John,  i.  275 
Perousa,  i.  48 
Pescara,  Marquis  de,  i.  68;  ii.  76, 


78,  99,  184,  190,  225,  229,  230,  234, 

255.  264,  26s,  267 
Philibert  II.  of  Savoy,  iii.   16 
Philip,  Archduke,  i.  45 
Pierre,  Albert  de  la,  i.  170 
Pisseleu,  Anne  de  (Heilly),  ii.  292, 

297.  310,   315;  iii.  21,  22,  84,   108, 

118,  210-12,  226,  232,  304,  357 
Pitigliano,  Count  of,  i.  58,  61,  i8a 
Poland,  King  of,  i.  291 
Pole,  Richard  de  la,  i.  115;  ii.  135, 

197 
Policastro,  Comte  de,  i.  167 
Pomperant,  M.  de,  ii.  (>t,  140,  148, 

227,  234 
Poncher,  Etienne,  i.  251;  ii.  308 
Poncher,  Francois,  ii.  308 
Pontbriant,  i.  31,  34 
Pontdormy,  M.  de,  i.  94;  ii.  96 
Poyet,  G.,  iii.  181,  208,  217,  221,  22a 
Prez,  Antoine  de,  ii.  236;  iii.  6i,  247 
Prie,  Aymar  de,  i.  94,  168;  ii.  155 
Primaticcio,  Francisco,  ii.  313;  iii. 

27 
Puy,  Bp.  of,  ii.  156 

R 

Radelais,  F..  iii.  31 

Ramossot,  Captain,  i.  69 

Ravenna,  battle  of,  i.  71 

Ravenstein,  Sieur  de,  i.  206 

Reformists,  iii.  103 

Renee  de   France,  i.   63,   127,   141; 

ii.  87,  123,  327 
Richemont,  i.  58 
Rimini,  i.  48 
Rochefort,  Gui  de,  i.  43 
Rohan,  Pierre  de   (St.  Gi6),  i.  17, 

»9.  31,  32,  33 
Rome,  fall  of,  ii.  307 
Rosso  del   Rosso,  iii.  27 
Rousillon,  Comte  de,  i.  60 
Rovera,  Francesco,  i.  60 


St.  Angelo,  Marquis  de,  ii.  225 
St.  Gie  (Rohan),  i.  17,  19,  31,  32,  33 


366 


Index 


St.  John,  Lord,  i.  275 

St.   Pol,   Comte  de,   i.   135;  ii.   39, 

232;  iii.  IS,  5S,  286,  288 
St.  Severino,  Comte  de,  ii.  223 
St.   Vallier,   Comte  de,  i.   154;   ii. 

137.  148,  157 
Saluzzo,  Marquis  de,  i.  163;  ii.  214, 

302;  iii.  14,  133,  173 
Sanga,  G.,  ii.  302 
Savoy,  Bastard  of,  i.  155,  170,  210, 

244;  ii.  231 
Scheiner,    Matthew   (Sion),   i.    64, 

76,  146,  171,  173,  186;  ii.  77 
Scotland,  ii.  36,  251 
Seckingen,  F.  de,  i.  294,  296,  298, 

302;  ii.  7,  60,  62 
Sedan,  Sieur  de,  i.  149 
Semblan^ay,  Baron  de,  ii.  71,  117, 

203,  247,  28s,  311 
Sforza,  F.,  ii.  46,  92,  266,  288;  iii. 

38-40,  106 
Sforza,  Lorenzo,  iii.  65 
Sforza,  Ludovico,  1.  262 
Shrewsbury,   Earl  of,  i.  93;  ii.  23 
Sion,  Card,  of  (see  Schreiner) 
Sismondi,  ii.  230;  iii.  100,  349 
Soliman,  Sultan,  ii.  112;  iii.  98,  178, 

241-43,  262,  274 
Sorbonne,  ii.  319 
Soyen,  M.  de,  246 
Spain  (see  Charles  V.) 
States-General,  i.  42,  260 
Suffolk,   Duke   of,    i.    94,    116,    129, 

J30,   149;  ii.  23,  35,  231;  iii.  56 
Surrey,  Earl  of,  ii.  127,  131.  i34 
Swiss  (guard),  i.  64 
Swiss  Republic,  i.  105,  106,  170;  ii. 

75 


Talbot,  Lord,  i.  93 
Talmont,  Prince  de,  i.  159.  182 
Tauzannes,  Montagnac,  ii.  154 
Tay,  Bastard  du,  i.  71 
Teligny,   Frangois  de,  i.  93,  159 
Terrail,  Pierre,  ii.  56 
Tours,  i.  42,  65 


Tremouille,  M.  de  la,  i.  7,  87,  90, 

105,   108,  178,  247,  248;  ii.   56,  66, 

108,  iss,  216,  223 
Treves,  Abp.  of,  ii.  5 
Trivulzio,  Jean  Jacques,   i.   53,   58, 

74,  88,  159,  262,  26s 
Trivulzio,  Teodoro,  ii.  233 
Turks,  the,  i.  195,  268,  278,  284,  304; 

ii.  112,  254;  iii.  54,  58,  182 
Turtoso,     Bp.     of     (see     Clement 

VII.) 


Valaisan,  G.  de,  i.  170 
Vandenesse,   M.   de,  i.  21,  25,  28, 

29;  ii.  188 
Vaux,  Sir  Nicholas,  i.  27s 
Vendome,   Due  de,  i.   136;  ii.  log, 

133.  155,  171.  242;  iii.  154 
Venice,  i.  47;  ii.  253 
Vergy,  Sieur  de,  i.  107 
Verjus,  M.  de,  i.  246 
Viane,  Prince  de,  i.  78 
Villa  Franca,  battle  of,  i.  167 
Villalva,   Col.,   i.  80 
Villiers  de  I'lsle  Adam,  ii.  42 
Vivcrots,  Sieur  de,  i.  73 
Voland,  MdUe.  de,  ii.  203 

W 

Wartz,  Seigneur  de,  ii.  142 
Watteville,  Jacques,  i.  105 
Wingfield,   Sir   Richard,  ii.   8,   is, 

323 
Wirtemburg,    Duke   Ulrich   of,    i. 

105,  107 
Wolsey,  Card.,  i.  115,  197,  268,  270; 

ii.    16,    18,   33,   36,    SI,   54,   79,   88, 

126,  251,  323-27;  >"•  3.  St 
Worcester,  Earl  of,  i.  175 


Ximinis,  Card.,  i.  205,  288 


Zapolsky,  John  de,  iii.  53 


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